Eastern Airways launches Gibraltar service
Eastern Airways has launched flights to the new 'Green List' British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar from Southampton, flying twice weekly year-round to the Mediterranean UK overseas territory.
Image courtesy Eastern Airways
The UK’s Regional Airline took-off yesterday morning marking this first ever scheduled service to Gibraltar in the Western Mediterranean from Southampton Airport, as one of the few UK Government Green list destinations currently open to UK tourism following the full vaccination completion by Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar. It is also the “first” scheduled international passenger service to depart Southampton Airport in 2021 following the effects if the Covid-19 pandemic on international travel.
Roger Hage, GM, Eastern Airways, said: “What a welcome sign of summer and return to enjoying the sun in the Mediterranean this first service from Southampton to Gibraltar marks. Being on the green list of destinations with a wealth of quality hotels, beaches, water-sports and heritage, this UK territory offers an exciting short-break destination aside from its role in UK business. Our work with the Gibraltar Government and the airport and tourism teams have enabled this new service to be commenced adding to our growing list of destinations from Southampton, and will be joined by the Birmingham to Gibraltar service from Friday 28th May, all highlighting the pivotal role Eastern Airways as the UK’s regional airline is playing in growing the air services across all four home nations.”
Vijay Daryanani MP, Minister for Business, Tourism, Transport & the Port for Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar said: “We warmly welcome Eastern Airway’s new service, opening up another catchment area for Gibraltar. The service will be another boost to our tourism and business communities. We look forward to working with the airline on more opportunities for the future.”
Steve Szalay, Operations Director at Southampton Airport said: “We are incredibly excited to welcome Eastern passengers on their inaugural Gibraltar flight. It’s a very special moment for us our first international flight of 2021 and a sign of restart and recovery after this awful pandemic.”
Eastern Airways’ services have been carefully reintroduced, aligned to changes in Covid-19 restrictions and demand, with extensive cleaning measures on-board and throughout all aspects of the airport for the safety of all passengers.
The independent UK-based carrier was formed in 1997 and has already expanded connectivity to Belfast-City, Manchester, Leeds-Bradford, Teesside, Dublin, Nantes and Rennes from Southampton Airport.