British Regional Airlines boosts domestic links

Carrier strategy

British Regional Airlines boosts domestic links

Report by LOUISELONGMAN

BRITISH Regional Airlines has increased domestic services with early flight times, extended saver fares and new routes but denies it is operating a monopoly over regional airports.

The BA franchisee has rescheduled times between Cardiff and Edinburgh so business travellers can leave Cardiff at 6.50am and arrive in Edinburgh before 9am.

A £68 return saver fare between Southampton and Jersey has been extended for winter travel, enabling passengers to receive a 34% saving on a full economy fare, bookable until March 31 next year.

British Regional Airlines has also launched a route between Cardiff and Newcastle and taken over a Birmingham to Newcastle route – previously operated by Maersk Air.

The carrier came under fire from independent airline Gill Airways after it was forced to drop the Birmingham to Newcastle route.

Gill Airways chief executive Malcolm Naylor said: “If BA, in the guise of subsidiaries and franchisees, continues to build a monopoly on domestic routes, there will be higher prices and less customer choice.”

But British Regional Airlines commercial director Mike Bathgate denied it was operating a monopoly. “The Birmingham to Newcastle route was not handed to us by BA. Maersk withdrew and Gill and ourselves were told about it at the same time. We are not operating a monopoly,” he said.

From October 29, the 6.50am British Regional flight from Cardiff to Edinburgh will be followed by services at 1pm and 7.10pm.

Flights back to Cardiff will arrive at 10.20am, 4.30pm and 8.30pm.

Fares between Edinburgh and Cardiff start from £133.10 including taxes.

Early start: the carrier has revised flight times