A common complaint from agents is that the no-frills airlines
are taking away their business.
However, low-cost flights are no longer restricted to departures
from London and the southeast. More and more services are being
launched from smaller, regional airports, operating alongside
traditional carriers.
So are they an opportunity or a threat? For an enterprising
agent, regional airports mean a wider range of destinations to sell
as well as the opportunity to charge service fees for low-cost
bookings.
Travel Weekly singled out four airports in the UK and Ireland
that offer no-frills flights to find out how they are developing
services on the back of both budget airline operations and those of
the more traditional carriers.
First, we shine the spotlight on Coventry Airport, which has
been grabbing the headlines in recent months. Headed up by former
Manchester Airport executive Bill Savage, the facility has been
engaged in a bitter battle with the local council over its
temporary terminal and car parking facilities. This resulted in a
High Court case, which the airport won, and incumbent airline
Thomsonfly.com has continued to offer services to a range of
European destinations.
But a permanent terminal has yet to be approved and passengers
with cars still have to be bused to the terminal from an off-site
car parking location. However, with Thomsonfly and Coventry Airport
promising to deliver two million passengers a year, and creating
hundreds of jobs and knock-on business to local traders, their
argument is strong.
The more established Bournemouth Airport and arguably
England’s most remote airport, at Newquay, are also examined
– two airports that have embraced both low-cost airlines and
charter operators to enhance their business.
Across the Irish Sea in Galway, we report on a classic example
of what has been achieved with just two scheduled airlines. Galway
Airport is experiencing a near doubling of traffic over this time
last year due to extra services from Aer Arran and British Airways.
This has resulted in vital new links to major UK centres and the
airport’s first service to continental Europe, with more
destinations under review.
Coventry Airport
The TUI-operated airport is embroiled in an ongoing battle with
the local council over its temporary facility, but following a High
Court ruling Thomsonfly has continued to offer a range of European
destinations since flights were launched in March.
- Location: off the A45, three miles from
Coventry. - Parking: £50 for seven days
(non-prepaid). Currently parking is off-site involving a bus
transfer to the temporary terminal. However the airport has applied
to offer parking adjacent the terminal. - Public transport: none. Taxi from Coventry
station, three miles away. - Airlines: Thomsonfly.
- Destinations: Amsterdam, Cork, Grenoble,
Ibiza, Jersey, Malaga, Marseilles, Naples, Nice, Palma, Pisa, Rome,
Salzburg, Shannon, Valencia and Venice. - Facilities: Dakota Diner is a self-service
kiosk with snacks and drinks, while a small shop sells gifts,
fragrances, books newspapers and magazines. - Future plans: Coventry Airport has applied to
build a permanent terminal for two million annual customers and
improved car parking facilities. Both applications have yet to be
approved. - Web: www.theaviationwebsite.com/cvt
Bournemouth Airport
The south coast airport recently added scheduled carrier Aurigny
to its portfolio, serving Jersey and Guernsey.
- Location: off the A338, north of the
town. - Parking: £32.50 for seven days. Three car
parks. - Public transport: trains and buses to
Bournemouth Travel Interchange station, six miles from the airport.
The A1 bus service goes to the airport. - Airlines: scheduled – Ryanair,
Rockhopper and Aurigny. Charter operators – Bath Travel,
Thomson, First Choice and Airtours, plus a range of smaller
operators. - Destinations: scheduled – Alderney,
Barcelona, Dinard, Dublin, Glasgow, Guernsey, Jersey and St Brieuc.
Charter – Mediterranean destinations. European cities include
Zurich, Turin, Split and Milan; long-haul destinations include Las
Vegas and Barbados. - Facilities: restaurants, bars, bureau de
change, duty-free shopping, newsagent and children’s play
area. - Future plans: additional scheduled services
and charter flights. - Web: www.flybournemouth.com.
Newquay Airport
The airport has enjoyed improved business since Ryanair launched
flights to Cornwall from Stansted and now offers alternative
destinations with the new airline Air Southwest.
- Location: off the A3059, five miles north of
Newquay. - Parking: available at the airport.
- Public transport: buses from Newquay town
centre. Nearest train stations are at Truro and St Austell, with
connecting buses. - Airlines: scheduled – Ryanair, Air
Southwest and Skybus. - Destinations: Stansted, Gatwick and the Isles
of Scilly. - Facilities: snacks and small shop.
- Future plans: more scheduled services.
- Web: none. Tel: 01637 860600.
Galway Airport
Europe’s most westerly airport has seen good growth since
Aer Arran launched flights to Luton two years ago. Manchester,
Edinburgh, Birmingham and the airport’s first service to
continental Europe, to Lorient in France, have since been added,
while British Airways uses Loganair to operate to Glasgow.
- Location: six miles from Galway city
centre. - Parking: six euros a day.
- Public transport: buses from the city, or by
taxi. - Airlines: Aer Arran and British Airways
(Loganair). - Destinations: Dublin, Luton, Manchester,
Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Lorient. - Facilities: snacks, bar and small shop.
- Future plans: additional UK cities to be
served, along with further destinations in Europe. - Web: www.galwayairport.com.