Both Exeter Airport and Bournemouth Airport in the UK are welcoming the resumption of commercial passenger flights.Both airports are operated by Regional & City Airports (RCA).
Ryanair passengers took off from Bournemouth for Malaga on 23 June for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic caused the airline to ground its flights. Additional routes are also available to book throughout July for flights to destinations including Alicante, Dublin, Faro, Girona, Krakow, Malta, Murcia, Palma, Paphos, Prague and Tenerife.
TUI plans to recommence services to Antalya, Corfu, Dalaman, Lanzarote, Palma and Tenerife from 1 August.
“In the middle of a difficult period for aviation and UK business as a whole, a return to commercial flying marks the first signs of recovery and gives a much-needed boost to regional and international air connectivity,” said Steve Gill, Managing Director of Bournemouth Airport .
Meanwhile Ryanair plans to recommence routes from Exeter to Alicante and Malaga from Saturday 4 July, followed by additional routes with Loganair later in the summer to Edinburgh and Newcastle. matt Roach, Exeter Airport’s Managing Director, said: “We’re delighted to get going again, and in particular to welcome Loganair to Exeter Airport for the first time, particularly as it secures key routes to Newcastle and Edinburgh for our region and customers.”
From 1 August TUI will recommence routes from Exeter to Corfu, Dalaman, Heraklion, Lanzarote, Palma, Paphos, Tenerife and Zante.
Both airports have remained open for medical and military flights as well as general aviation throughout the pandemic. With commercial flights now resuming, additional measures have been introduced to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and passengers. These include the installation of additional hand sanitiser units, enhanced cleaning, protective screens and the installation of floor markings and signage to help passengers maintain safe social distances.
