Story from e-tid:
Start-up chooses Humberside as first base
13 Jan 2012
A new airline will operate flights to Spain from Humberside Airport this summer.
Tickets for flights with jetXtra.com are on sale, with prices for its first two routes, Majorca and Malaga, starting at £69 one-way.
jetXtra is part of CCT Group Ltd and one of the start-up’s directors is Daniel Reilly, who made headlines in 2005 when, as an 18-year-old, he set up Nexus Airlines in his bedroom.
However, the business was wound up when its backer got into financial difficulties.
Since then, he was worked with Hunt&Palmer, the aircraft charter specialists.
Reilly, who is now 25, said: ‘Nexus Airlines sold really well – we sold 1,000 seats in our first week.
‘Everything went exactly as we wanted it to as far as sales and the popularity of flights were concerned but unfortunately, the company that was backing us financially fell into difficulties.
‘No customer lost out – we re-booked them on Monarch.
‘Since then, I have spent a fair bit of time in the industry, have gained a lot more experience and made a lot of contacts.
‘The new airline has the backing and support of an established tour operator, with all the expertise that brings. It is not a fly-by-night operation.’
The Humberside services to Majorca and Malaga will operate from 1 June to the end of October.
If successful, more routes will be added for the winter and summer 2013 seasons.
Reilly said the service will be ‘low cost, with extras’, such as free in-flight drinks and a baggage allowance of 15kg.
Passengers can pay £10.50 per leg to increase their baggage allowance to 20kg.
There are no fees for paying by credit or debit card.
‘Our aim is to bring a better service to the travelling public,’ he said.
Holiday Extras has signed an exclusive, long-term contract to offer travel insurance via the airline’s website.
Its website also says jetXtra.com has partnered with ‘alpharooms.com, holidayautos.com and travelextras.com to allow passengers to self package their holidays with great value hotels, car hire deals and other essentials’.