FlyBE to go Dutch
Saw this article in today's Exeter Express & Echo.
12:00 - 04 April 2005
£29 flights from Exeter to Amsterdam are set to start from next January
Exeter Airport could be linked to a second important European hub within months, it has been revealed.
City-based airline flybe, which last week began flights to Paris, has told the Echo that flights to Amsterdam are likely to be running by January next year.
Under the plans, a 74-seater Bombardier Q400 would leave Exeter Airport for Amsterdam Schiphol twice a day.
The fast-growing airline would also run two services back from the Dutch capital with one-way prices likely to start from £29.
Flybe sales and marketing director Mike Rutter said: "We are committed to growing flybe in Exeter.
"In our sights is Amsterdam as we think the success we are seeing with the Paris route can be continued.
"I'm as confident as I was with the Paris route that we will operate it."
Like Paris, the Amsterdam flights would give passengers from Exeter the opportunity to join other airlines' services to destinations around the globe.
Schiphol Airport has around 250 onward destinations.
The flights would operate to accommodate business needs with early morning and late evening departures.
However, it is expected around 40 per cent of the seats would be occupied by leisure travellers.
Flybe has been convinced to run the service following discussions with the business community about its travel needs.
And bosses have also been delighted with the early take-up of the Exeter-to-Paris Charles de Gaulle service which has exceeded expectations.
Mr Rutter said the airline was considering new flights to Germany later next year, with Geneva and the French ski resort of Chambery also firmly on the radar.
The news has been warmly greeted by Exeter's business community which says the flights would be another major step forward for the city economy.
Devon and Cornwall Business Council chairman Tim Jones said: "When we were looking at developing European hub links Schiphol was top of our list, but we understood that because of the level of competition that would be unlikely.
"So the opportunity that now emerges has come forward much more quickly.
"This is a very exciting opportunity and indicates the new desire to travel from regional airports.
"If we are looking to cover all the angles in opening up business in the South West it's a dream solution to have Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol."
The new route could see more than 100,000 extra passengers travelling through Exeter Airport every year.
I also believe Aberdeen is on it's way soon and possibly Norwich. Would love to see Manchester too. I Know Liverpool and Leeds begin in June but I think Manchester would work well too. Will be interesting to see which German routes are being considered. Will do wonders for inbound tourist figures as Germany (as will the Netherlands) is a key overseas market for Devon & Cornwall.