Gibraltar-3
 

Inaugural arrival of Wizz Air into GIB on Friday evening:

I assume the weather was out yesterday as BA diverted to AGP and the return cancelled. Wizz got in but doesn’t appear to have left?

Reported on Aviation Herald that the inbound Wizz flight received a bird strike. Should depart today.

Appears EasyJet have quietly dropped the LTN-GIB route and this will not operate in 2021.

I wonder if this is because of Wizz coming on the route or if it was planned otherwise?

Easyjet holding their powder dry is more likely. The battle for passengers and growth will start when millions ready to fly again.

To be fair I did find EasyJet's Luton schedule a bit odd. Wouldn't run at all during the peak summer season where you could argue the demand was the highest, and not operating it at a high frequency compared to what Monarch offered. Anyway hope they will bring it back once demand rises again.

Edinburgh continues to be bookable from March 2021, although it isn't bookable after October unlike the other 3 routes they operate.

As reported on the Eastern thread, it appears Eastern will be starting up a route to Southampton, with potential of others as well.

EasyJet's route to EDI has had its start date pushed back to 4th May 2021, initially operating weekly until June where it will go to 2 weekly. Subject to change of course.

Eastern launching Birmingham as well as Southampton.

Good news on paper - however Eastern are not known to always give routes a full chance before pulling them, so let's hope bookings are strong!

Now confirmed that Eastern Airways will be starting routes to Southampton and Birmingham. Fights will operate on a W pattern except for the first Southampton service which is due to start on 24th May. Birmingham will start on 28th:

Mon/Fri:
T3874 SOU-GIB Dep. 07:05 Arr. 10:55
T3975 GIB-BHX Dep. 11:40 Arr. 13:35
T3976 BHX-GIB Dep. 14:25 Arr. 18:20
T3877 GIB-SOU Dep. 19:05 Arr. 20:55

Flights are operated by an Embraer E190

I think Easyjet is missing the boat this year by not offering a LTN-GIB service which doesn’t operate in the peak summer months anyway and not at all this year. Gibraltar could well be seen as the only destination on the Med that is safe to book but the issue is the lack of suitable holiday hotels with the facilities people want. Also many hotels that are listed under Gibraltar are across the border in Spain so could still be subject to travel restrictions despite the summer months.

Aren't Wizzair operating LTN-GIB?

Not too sure about Gib. I was denied boarding by BA on 23rd December, after being told the night before that the flight would operate (which it did) and I that I wouild definitely travel (which I didn't). BA blamed Gibraltar for implementing new rules at the last minute.

Volotea are to start a 2x weekly route (Tuesday + Friday) between Bilbao and Gibraltar effective 02 July

interesting development and route.

wonder if the Basque region are by any chance funding this a bit? Twice weekly seems to be tourist orientated.

This is more of a Spanish domestic route now that Gibraltar is part of the Schengen Area.

A political route, i suspect.
Gib needs better UK link's.
And a flag carrier. GIB for GIB.

If its a political route then all the better, as it means the ice is melting and others could flow from it. Handy for a lot of Spain, now Schengen is a reality for them. This Spanish Government seems better disposed to Gibraltar than has been the case for many years. Monarch was the de facto flag carrier after the long defunct Gib Air. One to keep an eye on.

So do aircraft on approach and on departure still have to stay clear of Spanish airspace? It always made for an interesting approach.