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Eastern Airways to launch Gibraltar flights

Gibraltar flights from Birmingham and Southampton airports are being introduced by Eastern Airways this summer.

The first scheduled passenger service to Gibraltar from Southampton is due to start on May 24, followed by departures from Birmingham on May 28.

Eastern is restoring a Birmingham-Gibraltar service following a four-year hiatus after the demise of Monarch.

Flights will initially run twice a week on Mondays and Fridays from both airports.

The carrier will deploy Embraer 190 regional jets on the routes, with the aircraft based at Southampton for the first-time. Fares start at £74.99 one-way.

General manager Roger Hage said: “This marks a major development in the network Eastern Airways offers as our first regular scheduled services to the Mediterranean peninsula adjoining Spain.

“The new services see both our return to Birmingham airport as an operator while extending the growing number of destinations served from our Southampton hub.

“With a quality array of hotels, beaches, water-sports and heritage, this UK territory offers an exciting short-break destination aside from its role in UK business, notably financial services and maritime.

“With easy access to the south-coast of Spain also a benefit, working together with HM Government of Gibraltar has enabled this to be the first service to be announced, supporting UK regional airports and their role in direct UK and European connectivity.”

Gibraltar business, tourism and transport minister Vijay Daryanani said: “I stated recently that I would be able to announce the addition of another airline with services to Gibraltar and therefore it gives me great pleasure to make this announcement of Eastern Airways today.

“The links with both Birmingham and Southampton will open up a new catchment areas for Gibraltar.

“Work by this government to ensure that the tourism sector recovers and flourishes after this pandemic does not stop. The news will no doubt be welcomed by the local business community and the tourism, retail and hospitality industries.”

Southampton operations director Steve Szalay said: “The introduction of Eastern Airway’s first-ever service to Gibraltar is tremendous news and demonstrates the airline’s continued desire to grow its operations at Southampton airport.

“This is also a new destination for the airport and a positive step forward given the challenging conditions our entire industry continues to face.

“We look forward to working with Eastern to develop this service further.”

Tom Screen, aviation director at Birmingham airport said: ”It is great news that Eastern Airways are back at Birmingham offering customers the chance to fly direct to Gibraltar again, this route has been unserved from Birmingham since 2017.”

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