Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline and the UK’s number one domestic carrier, is reporting soaring sales over the same period last year with record numbers of passengers already flying out of Scotland where schools are already on their Autumn half term break:  and, with a 32% increase in the number of flights it now offers network-wide, the airline is also readying for an exceptionally busy time when the rest of the UK takes half term later this month. The airline will operate close to 3, 800 flights over the 9-day holiday period and, despite having almost

300, 000 seats on sale, has needed to provide additional capacity on particularly busy routes to cope with heavy demand, such as those serving London Gatwick and Southampton.

The airline’s 10 routes serving London Gatwick are performing especially well including those to and from Aberdeen, Inverness, Newquay and the Channel Islands, with travellers taking full advantage of Flybe’s South Terminal location given that transport connections between the airport’s North and South terminals are now so time-consuming.  Elsewhere, other popular routes include those to and from Belfast, the Channel Islands and Birmingham with European routes – including Bergerac, Paris and Dusseldorf - also attracting more passengers compared with the 2008 half term.

 

Flybe is doing all it can to keep Britain on the move during these challenging economic times by effectively providing a combination of highly affordable trips and unparalleled travel choice to the regions with one way fares still available across the network for the half term week from £24.99 including taxes and charges.

 

Mike Rutter, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer, comments: “It’s clear that people are determined to continue travelling and are finding that Flybe offers a wide selection of affordable, convenient flights that give them lots of travel options. As an example, our London Gatwick flights offer passengers extremely convenient through connections with the interline agreements we have with some 150 international carriers not to mention that, with the North/South terminal transport issues that can now add up to 30 minutes on to a passenger’s travelling time, our South terminal location is proving an added selling point.

 

“Flybe’s combination of low fares and regional flexibility means that families are easily able to benefit from affordable and stress-free breaks away and are obviously taking advantage of it. We would also advise those looking to travel later in the year – or even next summer - to book now to make sure they secure the lowest possible fares.”