A SLOT squeeze at Gatwick has prompted Israel specialist Longwood Holidays to introduce a weekly charter flight from Stansted in its new 1999/2000 programme.
The 230-capacity Arkia Airlines flight will depart for Eilat every Sunday from October 24.
Longwood managing director Rafi Caplin admitted the introduction of Stansted as a departure airport was not driven by demand. “It was more a case of having a lot of difficulty getting a slot elsewhere,” he said.
Caplin said carryings should finish 10% up on last year despite the decline in bookings following the bombing of Iraq.
“It is a miracle,” he added. “We are hoping for similar growth in 99/2000.”
He admitted, however, that prices were low.
Prices for the new programme lead in at £259 for a week in Eilat.
This includes bed and breakfast and flights and transfers. Accommodation is allocated on arrival.
Egypt has been dropped from the 1999/2000 programme as the operator prepares to launch a dedicated brochure to the destination.
The brochure will include destinations in Upper Egypt – including Luxor, Cairo and a programme of Nile cruises – which have not previously been featured by Longwood.