Heathrow soars to new heights

HEATHROW recorded its best-ever single month in its history in July as the summer getaway sent passenger numbers soaring to record highs
Breaking all previous monthly records, Heathrow welcomed 7.53 million passengers in July (+1.2% on last July) – averaging 243,000 passengers or the equivalent of the population of Plymouth every day.

Middle Eastern destinations were particularly popular for travellers as fuller aircraft led to a seven per cent increase in passengers to the region, while more flights to Brazil pushed up passenger numbers to Latin America by three per cent.

UK destinations saw five percent passenger growth on the back of recently launched Flybe flights to Scotland.

This summer saw Heathrow introduce new travelling friend ‘Little Miss Explorer’ to its tiniest travellers. Alongside Mr Adventure, the travelling duo launched a new augmented reality app to entertain children travelling with an interactive treasure hunt across the airport

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Up in the air . . .

VIETJET has announced the launch of a new international route connecting Ho Chi Minh City with the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. The Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)-Jakarta route, a three-hour journey, will operate daily from December 20, 2017. 

THAI AIRWAYS International will introduce four weekly direct flights to Vienna from Bangkok from 16 November, 2017 with connections to/from Australia.

FLYBE, Europe’s largest regional airline, has extended its 2017 summer flying schedules from Southampton on four of its popular routes with additional flights to accommodate half term travel on Sunday 29th and Monday 30th October 2017. The extra flights to Alicante , Faro, Malaga and Palma Mallorca are available for booking now at www.flybe.com

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Flybe Heathrow bound

FLYBE, Europe’s largest regional airline, announced in December that it is heading to London Heathrow for the first time next year to connect the UK’s largest international airport with Scotland, offering a choice of more than 40 scheduled flights a week from Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

The new routes complement Flybe’s well-established London City flights from the two Scottish airports. This route expansion means that, with effect from 26th March 2017, Flybe will offer up to 18 flights a day between London and Edinburgh, and 10 between London and Aberdeen.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Up in the air . . .

FLYBE is starting its new year-round daily service to Lyon, France, from Manchester Airport. The airline has also confirmed it will be adding Chambery as a new destination to its Manchester 2016-17 winter schedule.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Up in the air …

AS THE UK GOVERNMENT stalls on deciding which London airport should be awarded a new runway, Flybe has once again proposed opening up RAF Northolt to scheduled commercial flights.

The airline claims this would provide enhanced regional access to London and to long haul connections at neighbouring Heathrow airport, six miles from Northolt.

‘Independent of a decision on airport capacity expansion at either Heathrow or Gatwick, which may take well over a decade to implement, the government has been presented with an immediately actionable solution at Northolt that would enhance regional connectivity to Heathrow and the capital at no additional cost to the taxpayer,’ said Saad Hammad, CEO of Flybe.

‘Northolt is available right here, right now. It is a military airport that is used largely by a few wealthy VIPs and could easily be opened up to scheduled commercial flights with less noisy aircraft.’

RYANAIR has announced the launch of its biggest ever summer schedule for 2017 at Birmingham Airport, with:

Three new routes to Chania (Greece), and Girona and Reus in Spain,

Two new summer services to Sofia and Warsaw, and

More flights to Faro, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Palma, and Tenerife

The announcements comes after the airline announced its 2017 summer schedules at Leeds Bradford Airport and Newcastle Airport, including new routes and more flights to several of its most sought after summer destinations.

Ryanair’s Birmingham summer 2017 schedule will operate 28 routes in total, with 141 weekly flights, which will support 1,700 jobs at Birmingham Airport.

NORWEGIAN is expecting its busiest ever British summer with more than 1.3 million passengers taking advantage of the airline’s unique low-cost flights to America and extensive European city and sun routes.

Norwegian is the only airline offering British passengers direct low-cost flights to America.

FLYBE has started its new peak summer route to Rennes from London City with a service to north-western France that flies six times a week. Flights operate through to September 4.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: archive

Up in the air . . .

FLYBE has beaten its main rivals Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways in the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) Punctuality Statistics’ report for 2015. The report found the airline outperformed its industry rivals in terms of on-time arrivals for the second consecutive year.

The report places Flybe in top spot for airlines which operate more than 30,000 flights a year, with 84% of its flights recorded as being on time, ahead of Ryanair (82.1%), British Airways (72.7%) and easyJet (71.7%).

The report analysed airline performance from arrival and departure data provided by the CAA’s 25 UK reporting airports for airline’s on-time performance (defined by a less than 15 minute delay). Flybe has bucked the trend, improving year on year from 82% to 84%, whilst at the same time overall industry performance was reported to have dropped from 79% to 76.6% versus 2014.

FLYBE has started operating a fifth daily weekday flight between Leeds Bradford and Belfast.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Up in the air …

FLYBE has started a fifth daily weekday flight between Leeds Bradford and Belfast City airports that will operate year round to meet increased demand. One way fares are from £29.99 including taxes and charges and can be booked online.

STANSTED EXPRESS has launched a First Class Advance rail ticket for £24. With trains every 15 minutes between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport, the journey time is 47 minutes or 36 minutes from Tottenham Hale.

RYANAIR has published its Shannon winter 2016 schedule, with 12 routes in total and two new winter services to Fuerteventura and Malaga.

MORE than 40 million passengers passed through Orlando Airport, Florida in the 12 months to April 2016. ‘What makes this number – record – even more remarkable is that the current facility was designed to accommodate 24 million annual passengers,’ said Frank Kruppenbacher, chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Flybe franchise partner Blue Islands takes off

FLYBE’S third franchise partner, Blue Islands, has taken to the skies, providing 1,100 flights a month on its Guernsey-Jersey, Guernsey-Southampton, Jersey-Bristol, Jersey-London City, and Jersey-Southampton services.

Vincent Hodder, Flybe’s chief revenue officer, said: ‘The start of Blue Islands’ Flybe franchise operation marks a significant milestone for both airlines, creating an exciting synergy between two of the Channel Islands’ best known airlines.

‘Through the services they offer, we look forward to bringing the world to the islands’ doorstep, providing customers with increased efficiencies and access to a greater choice of UK and European connections.’

Existing Blue Islands’ passenger’ bookings have been transferred to the new Flybe services. The only change will be a different flight number and booking reference.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Aberdeen to Newquay – fast!

FLYBE has launched its new weekly summer flights between Aberdeen in Scotland and Newquay in Cornwall in south-west England.

Taking two hours, the new Saturday flight service takes approximately nine hours less compared to travelling by car. With the shortest train journeys from Aberdeen to Newquay taking more than 14 hours, including up to four changes, travellers choosing to fly can save almost 24 extra hours of holiday time.

Vincent Hodder, Flybe’s chief revenue officer, says: ‘Our new route to Newquay from Aberdeen opens up a whole new part of the country to travellers who might previously have been put off by the long journey times. We have all experienced driving or taking the train at peak holiday times, often an extremely stressful experience, especially for families taking a well-earned break.’

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Up in the air …

FLYBE has extended its exclusive partnership with #Disneyland #Paris for its Kids Under 7 Go Free entry offer to the theme park after it drove significant passenger growth during the first quarter of the year.  

Families wanting to take advantage of the holiday package offer, which includes Flybe flights into Paris Charles de Gaulle from Birmingham, Cardiff, Doncaster Sheffield, Edinburgh, Exeter, London City, Manchester, and Southampton – and from Southampton to Paris Orly – can book through to June 29 via the Disneyland Paris website for travel up to and including October 31.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit:Preparation</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com

Flybe boosts Belfast flights

FLYBE has expanded its 2016 summer schedule from Leeds Bradford airport with an additional daily weekday service to Belfast City from July 4, offering a choice of up to five flights a day. 

One-way fares start from £19.99 including taxes and charges.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Norwich Airport announces winter programme with new Flybe schedule

NORWICH AIRPORT has added holiday routes for Winter 2016 with new flights to Malaga and Alicante, plus a ski flight to Chambery in the French Alps, all of which will be operated by Flybe.

From October 31, Flybe’s winter schedule at Norwich will see the addition of two scheduled flights a week to both Alicante and Malaga, with a new Saturday service to Chambery commencing mid-December. These are in addition to its recently launched Exeter service through the winter months.

The Chambery link will be the first winter ski flight from Norwich since 2010.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Doncaster Sheffield Airport announces new winter destination … Chambery

#CHAMBERY in the #Rhone-Alps region of south-eastern France is the latest destination in Flybe’s winter programme from Doncaster Sheffield Airport. 

Close to Mont Blanc, Chambery is a gateway to a number of Alpine #skiresorts.

Steve Gill, managing director of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, said: ‘Being able to offer a winter sports destination is a great addition to our offer to customers alongside traditional get-away favourites such as Alicante, Tenerife and Malaga.’

Starting on December 17, flights to Chambery will operate once a week on Saturdays, with one-way fares available for booking at www.flybe.com from £44.99 including taxes and charges.


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: www.flickr.com/photos/90469716@N00/25300663440">pan_160307_001</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin

Flybe to run London-Cardiff ‘rescue’ flights

#FLYBE will run up to four ‘rescue flights’ on weekdays – and two a day on weekends – between Cardiff and London City Airport, later this year, when the planned six-week closure of the Severn Tunnel (from September 12 to October 21) will disrupt rail services to and from South Wales.

Fares, one way, start from £34.99 inclusive of taxes and charges.

Vincent Hodder, Flybe’s chief revenue officer says: ‘We have pulled out all the stops to ensure that customers wanting to travel between the capital cities of Wales and England still have convenient and affordable travel options during the period when the Severn Tunnel will be closed and there will be no direct rail link.

‘We hope these rescue flights will help to alleviate the travel woes of the thousands of passengers displaced by the loss of the region’s direct rail services.’

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Flybe – new routes from Doncaster Sheffield Airport

#YORKSHIRE’S Doncaster Sheffield Airport has announced the launch of new Flybe flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle, along with a business route to Dusseldorf.

Part of a new eight-route deal between Flybe and the airport, the launch of the new routes will see the UK-based budget airline deliver the largest number of departures from the Yorkshire airport, offering some 42 extra flights per week. As part of the deal, almost 500,000 extra seats will be available to Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Jersey, Newquay, Malaga, Alicante, and Faro.

The Embraer 195 jet aircraft that took off from Doncaster Sheffield Airport to Paris on March 24, inscribed with ‘Welcome to Yorkshire’ livery, will be used to promote the Yorkshire region to potential tourists across Europe and the UK.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Up in the air . . .

FLYBE has confirmed that it will cancel its Liverpool service to Amsterdam at the end of March.

The route was launched in September, but the airline said demand was insufficiently strong.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Up in the air . . .

Manchester Airport unveils £1 billion expansion plan 

Manchester Airport has made a video showing how the airport will look in ten years following a £1 billion investment. Subject to getting planning permission, it will see a state-of-the-art terminal building created through the expansion of the airport’s existing Terminal Two building.


Flybe announces new routes – Manchester to Lyon, Southampton to Munich

Flybe has announced a year-round service between Manchester and Lyon, France, with daily flights starting in August. It has also confirmed plans for year-round daily flights between Southampton and Munich, Germany.

Flybe was recently named Best Short-Haul Airline at the 2016 Business Travel Awards.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Up in the air …

American carriers line up to offer Cuba services 

United Airlines has submitted its formal application to the US department of Transportation for authority to provide service from four of its largest US gateway cities – Newark/New York, Houston, Washington, D.C., and Chicago – to Havana.

American Airlines issued proposal to operate scheduled services, including ten daily frequencies to Havana from American’s Latin America gateway hub in Miami. American will also offer additional service to Havana from its hubs in Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Doncaster to Disneyland … direct

#DISNEYLANDPARIS tickets can now be booked by people looking to fly direct from Doncaster Sheffield airport.

Steve Gill, the airport’s managing director, said: ‘We are delighted that our passengers can now book trips to Disneyland Paris flying out of their local airport.

‘For Yorkshire passengers, travelling to Disneyland Paris meant a trip to London for the Eurostar train or a flight from outside of the Yorkshire region. From March, they can use their local airport to fly directly to Paris and enjoy a family trip to Disneyland.’

The Disneyland Paris service is part of Flybe’s plan to operate eight new routes from Doncaster Sheffield. From March, passengers will be able to fly to Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Faro, Malaga, Alicante, Jersey, and Newquay.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/86989558@N00/7685688156">Disneyland!!</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">(license)

Flybe to launch Southampton-Lyon route

FLYBE has confirmed details of a new daily flight between Southampton and Lyon, #France, as part of its 2016 summer schedule. 

It is its second route to be operated under the UK government’s Regional Air Connectivity Fund. Tickets are available for booking now at www.flybe.com with one way fares from £29.99 including taxes and charges for travel between May 23 and October 29.

Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill said: ‘It is fantastic to see Flybe launch this service between Southampton and Lyon. Our smaller airports are vital engines for local economies, connecting the UK and overseas destinations and opening up opportunities. That is why the government is backing new regional air routes to drive investment and boost growth across the country.’

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40451021@N07/11210896385">Lyon</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">(license)