Airlines swoop in on ex-bmibaby routes
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Jet2.com has become the latest airline to announce new routes from East Midlands following bmibaby’s closure announcement.
Jet2.com will launch eight new destinations for winter 2012/13 and summer 2013 including Dubrovnik, Menorca, Nice, Ibiza, Larnaca, Gran Canaria, Chambery and Geneva. The carrier will have a total of 23 destinations from the airport, which has also seen Monarch and Flybe increase flights for next year following bmibaby’s potential closure. “Many local travellers have been affected by the decision to cancel bmibaby operations from East Midlands Airport,” said Ian Doubtfire, managing director at Jet2.com.
Monarch and Flybe are amongst the other carriers to have swooped in on the gap left by bmibaby, particularly its routes from East Midlands.
Manx2.com has also announced it will start to operate an Oxford – Jersey route from tomorrow (8 May) as an alternative to bmibaby’s East Midlands route. “It’s obviously disappointing that Jersey is losing a main carrier like bmibaby but perhaps understandable in these tough economic times. As an island-based company, Manx2 understand the need to maximise access and maintain connectivity wherever possible and we are very keen to ensure that no one has to cancel their travel plans,” said David Buck, managing director at Manx2.com. “We will be opening a new route from Jersey to Oxford and the Midlands next week which we hope will fill some of the gap”.
A replacement airline for the Belfast routes are expected to be announced later this week. bmibaby announced route cuts from June with a potential closure date on 9 September following bmi’s takeover from Lufthansa to IAG.