Bad News For Airport
Palmair Considers Cancelling Winter Flights from Bournemouth
Aug 25, 2010 Elaine Findlay
Bournemouth Airport faces a bleak time as airline Palmair considers adopting Ryanair's economic strategy of suspending all flights over the winter months
Just one month after Ryanair announced it would not be offering flights from Bournemouth Airport over the coming winter, airline Palmair, in a statement read on BBC Radio Solent on Wednesday August 25, 2010, says it is considering adopting the same economic strategy as Ryanair and not offering a winter flying schedule.
Winter Flying Suspension Due to Recession Says Palmair
Palmair’s reasons for considering cancelling flights during November, December and January are, centred on the economics of the current recession. Passenger numbers last winter were low and are expected to be even lower this winter because of the high price of the Euro and a weakened confidence in the airline industry since the volcanic ash situation earlier in the year.
If Palmair does cancel its winter flying, the move could be an economic blow for Bournemouth International Airport, coming as it does just two months after the grand opening of its £45 million new departures terminal. However, when asked about his views on the Palmair considerations, in an interview broadcast on BBC Radio Solent on August 25, 2010, Bournemouth Airport’s commercial director, Stephen Turner, adopted a bullish attitude.
Bournemouth Seeking Other Operators for Lapland and Ski Flights
He said he was not worried about how airport coping economically during the winter months because Ryanair had suspended flights for November and December only and are expected back in January (although Ryanair’s website says January flights are suspended too). Turner also said that they are speaking to other operators with a view to laying on Lapland flights in the run up to Christmas as well as winter flights to ski destinations.
Palmair is the airline operated by Bournemouth travel agency Bath Travel and although it only has one Boeing 737 in its fleet, it was voted the world’s best airline for customer service in 2003 and third best airline in 2008. The airline specialises in short haul flights to Mediterranean destinations such as Majorca, Portugal and Spain as well as North African destinations such as Tenerife and Madeira.
Palmair Tells Winter Holiday Makers to Book Flights Elsewhere
Prospective travellers phoning the airline to enquire about holidays in the winter months are currently being advised to book them through other tour operators. This coupled with the fact that no Palmair winter brochure has been published shows the considerations are very real and it seems only a matter of time before formal confirmation of the cancelling of winter flights by Palmair from Bournemouth International Airport is announced.