it's not a rumour - here is the press release from EXT airport
Tunisia and Fuerteventura winter departrues
Wednesday 17 June 2009
Flights to two new winter hotspots will be available from Exeter Airport this year thanks to a new deal with award winning airline and tour operator, Palmair.
Departures for holidays in Tunisia, North Africa, in November are on sale from the end of June with Palmair and the company will also operate flights to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands with one or two week holidays from November until the end of March 2010.
The UK based company, which operates from offices in Bournemouth, was voted Britain’s most popular short haul airline last year in a survey by Holiday Which?, the third time in the past ten years.
Commenting on the new flights, Exeter Airport’s managing director Jamie Christon said: “This is great news for the airport team and for those wanting to fly to guaranteed sunshine this winter. Despite the gloomy economic conditions, these new routes may be an indicator of better times ahead and I am confident that these flights will sell out quickly. Flying to two new destinations, and being able see an African destination on our departure screens is testament to the hard work that is being put in to securing new business. We are delighted to be teaming up with Palmair and supporting local Bath Travel retail shops.”
Palmair was founded in 1957 by Peter Bath and the company, which is still in the Bath family's hands, also operates the Bath Travel outlets which now have the seventeen former Tappers Travel shops in the area to support the flights from Exeter.
Palmair’s managing director, David Skillicorn said: “For more than 50 years our company has prospered because of our attention to detail and ensuring high standards of customer care. We believe that in the management and staff of Exeter airport we have found a perfect business partner. This is a real good news story and everyone at Palmair is very excited about the new opportunities for the operation from Devon.”
Palmair concentrates on getting the basics right for all their passengers and they boast an attitude from an era of package tours when there was an emphasis on quality of service and personal interaction with the clients.
MIR (Monastir, Tunisia)
Depart from Exeter: 31 October | 7 November | 14 November | 21 November 2009
FUE (Fuerteventura, Canary Islands)
Depart from Exeter: 18 November | 9 December | 13 January | 10 February | 10 March | 31 March 2010