Gatwick Airport today, Monday 7 February, welcomed airberlin – the latest airline carrier to choose to operate services from Europe’s busiest point-to-point airport. Flights from Hanover and Nuremberg touched down this morning at 07:00 and 07:15 respectively and were given the official airfield water arch welcome.

airberlin is Europe’s sixth largest airline carrier and represents the new breed of airlines challenging the budget-airline market by offering full service flights at low-cost prices. airberlin’s business ethos – offering passengers an excellent service that represents good value for money - is in line with the aspirations of the ‘new’ Gatwick, which is investing £1 billion to modernise the airport facilities and deliver great services for passengers to, through and from the airport.

airberlin’s routes to Hanover and Nuremberg caters for both the leisure and business traveller which fits with Gatwick’s profile as the premier leisure airport with aspirations to grow and compete for business traffic.

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick Airport’s Chief Executive said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome airberlin to Gatwick and offer our passengers new routes into two of Germany’s great cities.

“We are transforming Gatwick with a £1 billion investment programme that will modernise the facilities, improve customer service and bolster the public transport links into London, to make Gatwick London’s airport of choice. Today’s news demonstrates we are making headway in achieving that vision. This is the first step in a long-term relationship with airberlin, which we hope will generate further destinations not currently served by Gatwick and open up more choice for our passengers.”

airberlin, UK & Ireland Country Manager Titus Johnson said: “Gatwick airport has excellent links into London and the South East meaning the airberlin full service lower fares product will now be even more accessible for both leisure and business travellers. We very much look forward to commencing flights to Hanover and Nuremberg from Gatwick, making Germany now closer than ever with airberlin.”

airberlin is the second European airline in recent years to choose Gatwick as its London base; Norwegian Air Shuttle moved its entire operation from Stansted to Gatwick in mid-2009 primarily because of the direct and fast public transport links into the heart of the Capital.

airberlin’s decision to operate the routes out of Gatwick sends a strong signal to the airport market that Gatwick is changing and becoming a more attractive place for airlines to operate services from, and for passengers to fly from.