European regional carrier Flybe will start operating its fully expanded schedule from East Midlands Airport on September 10th with two routes serving Edinburgh and Glasgow returning following bmi baby’s withdrawal of the services in June.

With added frequencies to allow business travellers the opportunity of day return travel and the added ability to take advantage of well-timed onward connections to the Highlands and Islands from Edinburgh with Flybe’s franchise partner, Loganair, early bookings have exceeded expectations.
Flybe’s flexible Plus fares are proving particularly popular with corporate and business travellers while there’s also a noticeable trend with groups wanting to travel to Edinburgh for short stays.

Andrew Strong, Flybe UK MD, comments: “We have strived to create a schedule that appeals to both business and leisure travellers and so are pleased with the response with the take up of our early morning southbound and evening northbound flights in particular. This confirms the importance of both of these routes that provide a crucial link to the industries based in the East Midlands.”

Ken O’Toole, Chief Commercial Officer, Manchester Airports Group (M.A.G) said: “It’s clear based on previous demand, that links to Edinburgh and Glasgow are enormously important to our passengers.

“The fast response by Flybe, to preserve these vital links to Scotland, underpins the important role the airport plays as a gateway from the East Midlands to the UK, Europe and beyond.”

George Cowcher, Chief Executive of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The reintroduction of these two key routes into Scotland underline the importance of East Midlands Airport to the local business community in opening up access to opportunities in a growing range of locations within the UK, Europe and beyond.

“Exporters often talk about the importance of having good transport links to the Continent and further afield, but equally critical to some local firms is having easy access to the more remote parts of the UK where they do business. Edinburgh and Glasgow are two of the UK’s key business hubs and these new routes will enable companies here in the East Midlands to travel to and from them for business meetings and other trading purposes quickly and conveniently.”

Martin Traynor, CEO of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, commented: “The recent announcement by Flybe to take on bmibaby’s routes to Edinburgh and Glasgow reinforces the importance of East Midlands as a major regional airport and emphasises how important these links to other UK cities are for the local business community.”

Adds Mr Strong: “We know that many passengers rely on East Midlands Airport for their regional travel and we look forward to welcoming all our new passengers on board and to the start of our other three new routes to Amsterdam, Jersey Paris Charles de Gaulle that start at the end of October.”