easyJet Boosts Flights to Gibraltar

UK carrier easyJet has announced plans to increase capacity between London Gatwick and Gibraltar during summer 2012, increasing the frequency of its flights on the route. The additional four flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays and Sundays and will provide more flexibility to business and leisure travellers. The airline carried an estimated 101,000 O&D passengers on the route in the past year and is the only operator between the two destinations.

Gibraltar lies at the southern most tip of Spain and offers Mediterranean sunshine, sandy beaches, crystal blue waters and tax-free spending with the Gibraltarian pound, making it a convenient and affordable holiday destination.

“We’re thrilled to provide extra frequency on this busy route, particularly as the new terminal facilities at Gibraltar Airport will soon be available,” said Paul Simmons, UK Director, easyJet. “Famed for its fantastic 426m high rock and steeped in history, Gibraltar offers a great mix of cultures with British traditions, and with the benefit of the Mediterranean climate making it a great beach and city destination and ideal for both business and leisure customers.”

The London Gatwick – Gibraltar route has shown a high demand for the past few years since previously being operated by British Airways (BA). An estimated 85,000 O&D passengers flew on the route in 2006; rising to 136,000 in 2007 as BA increased capacity. easyJet entered the market in 2008 and numbers grew still further to 221,000, before slipping to 211,000 in 2009. BA’s closure of the route in 2009 meant estimated O&D passenger numbers fell to 101,000 in 2010 due to the reduced capacity, a figure that is now expected to grow as frequency is increased.

“This route has always shown very high demand and for some time now we’ve had requests for more capacity to be made available on this service,” explained The Hon. Joe Holliday, Minister for Transport of the Government of Gibraltar.

Alongside its flights to Gibraltar from London Gatwick, easyJet also offers links from Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Monarch Airlines also provides links from London Luton and Manchester, BA from London Heathrow and from March 31, 2012, bmibaby from East Midlands.