Loganair says it will offer 50 per cent more seats this winter compared to 2019, with a number of new routes announced “after they could not be operated in 2020 due to the Covid-19 crisis”.
The airline launched as an independent carrier in 2017, following the end of a longstanding franchise agreement with Flybe, and has gradually built a comprehensive regional network, taking over routes firstly from the defunct Flybmi in 2019, and then from Flybe when the carrier collapsed in early 2020.
Loganair said that it will operate 13 new winter routes this year, including several summer-only services which are being extended into the winter timetable.
Newquay will be available as a winter destination from Newcastle, Manchester and Edinburgh, while Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Norwich will offer flights to Exeter for the first time over winter months.
Selected existing routes will also see an increase in frequency, with up to four flights per day between Manchester and Aberdeen this winter. The full list of new routes for this winter season is as follows:
- City of Derry – Liverpool
- Bristol – Teesside
- Birmingham – Isle of Man
- Belfast – Isle of Man
- Belfast – Teesside
- Manchester – Newquay
- Exeter – Glasgow
- Newcastle – Newquay
- Exeter – Newcastle
- Edinburgh – Newquay
- Exeter – Norwich
- Birmingham – Inverness
- Edinburgh – Exeter
Commenting on the news Kay Ryan, chief commercial officer at Loganair, said:
“There is no doubt that the last 15 months have been the toughest in record for the aviation industry. Loganair had planned an ambitious programme for both the summer and winter 2020 with several new destinations appearing on our route map and I am delighted that we are now able to fully realise our ambitions for both seasons.
“Our winter programme, from October 29 through to the end of March 2022, represents a 50 per cent increase in seats and provides the regional connectivity needed across the country, and in particular opens up the UK for our more remote island communities.”
