Airport News
with Robbie Shaw
Robbie Shaw lives near Gatwick where he was an Air Traffic Controller and travels regularly to his place in Collioure. His wife describes him as an ‘aviation geek’, just what we need in fact. 🙂
He travels all over the world photographing aircraft, and also keeps you up to date with flights between this region and UK & Irish airports, and any other airport news that seems relevant.
SPRING 2024
Covid-wise the airline schedules seem to be somewhat more normal now, but of course things are still liable to change. For instance I checked the BA website for the Gatwick to Montpellier flight which showed a starting date of 2nd February. Only a day later that had changed to 4th April. This covers the summer schedules period from 31 March (Easter Sunday) till the end of the summer schedules on 26 October but beware: airlines constantly change schedules due to demand, so please refer to these tables only as a helpful guide rather than written in stone.As usual, my best suggestion is to constantly monitor the airline websites yourself. Summer schedules start on Easter Sunday 31 March. During the summer, frequency of service increases as the months go on.
FRANCE
PERPIGNAN
Good to see our local airport coming back with a few UK offerings. Leeds starts earlier this year. If you are looking at the websites and find the fares to P.O. are very high look at the rugby fixture list and that could explain it. Often changing just a few days can reduce the fare, and car hire prices. Also fares are generally cheaper midweek, especially in the summer months – or ridiculously expensive in school mid-term.
| From | N° of weekly flights | Airline |
| BIRMINGHAM | 2 | RYANAIR 2 June – 29 Sep |
| DUBLIN | 2-4 | AER LINGUS 1 May-29 Sep |
| LEEDS BRADFORD | 2 | RYANAIR 2 Apr – 26 Oct |
| STANSTED | 5 | RYANAIR 2 Apr – 26 Oct |
BEZIERS
Like Carcassonne, Ryanair has a free run at this small airport. Edinburgh does not start till June.
| From | N° of weekly flights | Airline |
| BRISTOL | 3-4 | RYANAIR 2 Apr – 26 Oct |
| EDINBURGH | 2 | RYANAIR 2 June – 29 Sep |
| LUTON | 3 | RYANAIR 31 Mar – 25 Oct |
| MANCHESTER | 3 | RYANAIR 31 Mar – 25 Oct |
| SHANNON | 2 | RYANAIR 1 Apr – 24 Oct |
| STANSTED | 3 | RYANAIR 31 Mar – 26 Oct |
CARCASSONNE
Ryanair remains the sole operator here. New service is from Bournemouth, but Edinburgh has been dropped. Cork does not start till June.
| From | N° of weekly flights | Airline |
| BOURNEMOUTH | 2 | RYANAIR 1 May – 26 Oct |
| EAST MIDLANDS | 2 | RYANAIR 3 April – 26 Oct |
| MANCHESTER | 4 | RYANAIR 1 Apr – 25 Oct |
| STANSTED | 7 | RYANAIR 31 Mar – 26 Oct |
| CORK | 2 | RYANAIR 3 June – 25 Oct |
| DUBLIN | 4 | RYANAIR 1 Apr – 25 Oct |
MONTPELLIER
easyJet operate from both Gatwick and Luton. The latter only for a short period. British Airways have a new Gatwick service. These are operated by their Gatwick subsidiary British Airways Euroflyer.
| From | N° of weekly flights | Airline |
| GATWICK | 2-3 12 | BRITISH AWYS 2 Apr – 24 Oct EASYJET 31 Mar – 26 Oct |
| LUTON | 2 | EASYJET 26 June – 31Aug |
NIMES
Ryanair is the sole operator for P-O readers, but Edinburgh has been dropped.
| From | N° of weekly flights | Airline |
| DUBLIN | 2 | RYANAIR 31 Mar – 23 Oct |
| STANSTED | 2 | RYANAIR 1 Apr – 25 Oct |
TOULOUSE / BLAGNAC
There tends to be more flights to Toulouse from UK regional airport in the winter due to skiing opportunities, with Andorra not too far away. Ryanair have added service to Birmingham whilst Manchester will be introduced by Jet2.
| From | N° of weekly flights | Airline |
| BIRMINGHAM | 2 | RYANAIR 1 Apr – 25 Oct |
| BRISTOL | 7 | EASYJET 26 March-28 Oct |
| EDINBURGH | 3 | RYANAIR 31 Mar – 26 Oct |
| GATWICK | 6 | EASYJET 31 March-25 Oct |
| HEATHROW | 22 | BRITISH AWYS 26 Mar-26 Oct |
| STANSTED | 10 | RYANAIR 31 Mar – 26 Oct |
| DUBLIN | 3 4 | AER LINGUS 31 March-22 Oct RYANAIR 1 Apr – 26 Oct |
SPAIN
BARCELONA / EL PRAT
As always a huge variety of flights to Barcelona, most of which run all year round, but with seasonal increases. For those unfamiliar, take care on the Barcelona ring-road, one wrong turn could be very time consuming. Quite a few changes. Ryanair have restarted Cork and Prestwick. Birmingham has been added to the easyJet schedules – only four airlines on the route now ! This summer Vueling are no longer offering flights from Edinburgh, British Awys now operate a service from London City airport.
| From | N° of weekly flights | Airline |
| BELFAST INT’L | 4-5 | EASYJET 31 Mar – 25 Oct |
| BIRMINGHAM | 2-4 2 7 7 | EASYJET 31 Mar – 24 Oct JET2 31 Mar – 24 Oct RYANAIR 31 Mar – 26 Oct VUELING 31 Mar – 24 Oct |
| BRISTOL | 12-14 6 | EASYJET 31 Mar – 24 Oct RYANAIR 1 Apr – 26 Oct |
| EAST MIDLANDS | 9 | RYANAIR 31 Mar – 26 Oct |
| EDINBURGH | 8-10
| RYANAIR 1 Apr – 26 Oct |
| GATWICK | 25-28 53 | EASYJET 31 Mar – 26 Oct VUELING 31 Mar – 24 Oct |
| GLASGOW INT’L | 4 | EASYJET 31 Mar – 26 Oct |
| GLASGOW PRESTWICK | 4 | RYANAIR 2 Apr – 26 Oct |
| HEATHROW | 55 | BRITISH AWYS 31 Mar – 24 Oct |
| LEEDS BRADFORD | 2 | JET2 1 Apr – 25 Oct |
| LIVERPOOL | 2-3 5 | EASYJET 1 Apr – 26 Oct RYANAIR 31 Mar – 25 Oct |
| LONDON CITY | 4 | BRITISH AWYS 31 Mar-24 Oct |
| LUTON | 14 7 | EASYJET 31 Mar – 26 Oct RYANAIR 31 Mar – 26 Oct |
| MANCHESTER | 8 4 11 10
| EASYJET 31 Mar – 26 Oct JET2 31 Mar – 25 Oct RYANAIR 31 Mar – 26 Oct VUELING 31 Mar – 24 Oct |
| NEWCASTLE | 3 | RYANAIR 1 Apr – 26 Oct |
| STANSTED | 28 | RYANAIR 31 Mar – 26 Oct |
| CORK | 2 | RYANAIR 3 Apr – 24 Oct |
| DUBLIN | 14 21 11 | AER LINGUS 31 Mar – 24 Oct RYANAIR 31 Mar – 26 Oct VUELING 31 Mar – 24 Oct |
GIRONA
In the last couple of years there had been a big increase in flights to Girona. Ryanair has renamed the 737-MAX8 as the 737-8200, and many are now in service, with more to come. Subject to aircraft deliveries the number of flights listed could well change. Ryanair services to Girona have increased with several starting earlier than last season.
| From | N° of weekly flights | Airline |
| BELFAST | 1-2 | RYANAIR 2 Mar – 26 Oct |
| BIRMINGHAM | 2 2-4 | JET2 1 Apr – 25 Oct RYANAIR 1 Apr – 24 Oct |
| BOURNEMOUTH | 7 | RYANAIR 31 Mar – 26 Oct |
| BRISTOL | 1 3-5 | JET2 4 May – 26 Oct RYANAIR 2 Apr – 25 Oct |
| CORK | 2-3 | RYANAIR 2 Apr – 26 Oct |
| DUBLIN | 4 | RYANAIR 31 Mar – 26 Oct |
| EAST MIDLANDS | 1 3-4 | JET2 5 May – 20 Oct RYANAIR 31 Mar – 24 Oct |
| GLASGOW | 1 | JET2 5 May – 20 Oct |
| KNOCK | 2 | RYANAIR 31 Mar – 23 Oct |
| LEEDS BRADFORD | 2 5 | JET2 From 31 Mar – 24 Oct RYANAIR 2 Apr – 26 Oct |
| MANCHESTER | 2-4 5 | JET2 1 Apr – 25 Oct RYANAIR 1 Apr – 26 Oct |
| NEWCASTLE | 1 | JET2 31 Mar – 20 Oct |
| SHANNON | 3 | RYANAIR 1 Apr – 25 Oct |
| STANSTED | 2 10-12 | JET2 1 Apr – 26 Oct RYANAIR 31 Mar – 26 Oct |
**Please note that these are the average number of flights per week, and will be variable in the shoulder and peak seasons, that is why you will sometimes see a minimum and maximum number listed. If you think I have missed any, please contact me on info@anglophone-direct.com. Please do bear in mind airline schedules fluctuate.**
AIRPORT TRANSPORT (please contact us with any new info)
Check out VIP Transport for door to door VIP service for all our local airports. |
Public transport options
Bus/Train ……. The airport bus from Perpignan railway station takes about 20 mins and runs regularly from around 06.30 to 19.30 Mon to Sat, with a much reduced service on Suns and Holidays.
Taxi..…..3 taxi firms have the right to use the forecourt at Perpignan airport. Prices average about 2€50 per km, so fares for single trips to coastal resorts and the Alberes/Vallespir can be eye-watering !
Car..…… PGF is north of the city near Rivesaltes. Since the recent modernisation, parking supply is ample and costs around 40€ per week.
Bus/Train.….you can travel to Carcassonne railway station from almost any station in P-O, but must usually change at Narbonne. From Carcassonne, there is a shuttle bus that individually connects with each flight departure and arrival. Single fare 5€.
Car.……The airport is right by jcn 23 of the A61 autoroute. There are 3 car parks: short, medium and long stay, and a week in the latter costs 40€.
BEZIERS
Bus/Train…….All trains from PO stations to Montpellier and beyond stop at Beziers. From there, there is a shuttle bus that individually connects with each departing and arriving flight. Single fare 1€60.
Car. …..the airport is close to jcn 35 of the A9 autoroute. There is ample parking right next to the terminal and costs 40€ per week.
www.aena.es/en/girona-costa-brava-airport
Bus/train ……… Not an easy airport to access by public transport anymore. A train from Perpignan will take you to Girona station, the easiest option from there being a taxi at around 40 euros. ( price not confirmed).
You can also take a bus to the airport from Girona’s bus station, not far from train station to the Girona Buses run every hour & travel time is 26 minutes. Check bus schedules HERE
Pick up Flixbus directly to the airport from Perpignan. Prices are reasonable but timetable can be constrictive
Car.…….The airport is right by jcn 8 of the AP7 autopista. Several car parking companies exist both on and off the airport, and the official on-airport car park do regular promotions. For example, at the time of writing, a prebooked stay of 7 to 20 days costs a flat 42€.
www.aena.es/en/barcelona-airport
Train……. The new Barcelona Metro line L9 now serves both Terminal 1 and 2 but only from stations south of the city so is of limited use if coming from P-O . The suburban train R2 Nord runs from Sants station in the city every half hour, but serves only T2 . As regards accessing Barcelona by rail from P-O, there are 4 trains to/from Perpignan daily direct to Sants station, but unfortunately the earliest of these arrives Sants at 12.38 and the latest departs Sants at 16.45. A better bet is Figueres Vilafant (AVE) station which offers a virtually hourly service to Sants from 06.30 to 21.00 daily.
Bus….. The Aerobus runs from the Plaza de Catalunya in Barcelona city centre all day every 5 minutes to Terminal 1 and every 10 mins to Terminal 2. Perpicat run one morning service direct to Barcelona airport at a single fare of 50€ . There is a free green shuttle bus between terminals.
Car.…… Barcelona airport is on the south of the city just off the C31 autovia. I find that, generally, easiest access is via the AP7 toll road, continuing round the city onto the A2 autovia as far as the C31. Reckon on 2h15 mins from Le Boulou. Once there, parking options are vast. As a rule of thumb, the nearer the airport terminal, the more you’ll pay, but even at popular times you should need to pay no more than 8€ per day. I recommend looking at the official airport site, as there are often deals and promotions. For example at the time of writing prebooked up to 20 day stays in the main T1 multi storey just 3 minutes walk from the terminal were only 75€ ! Another option, particularly if you are catching an early flight is using one of the 4 local hotels that offer free shuttle buses direct to the terminals. You can leave your car free by the hotel, and usually rooms are available booking in advance for about 70€ . Try www.booking.com for details.
Sadly Ryanair are showing that flights from Leeds/Bradford to Perpignan do not start until May, not April as stated here.
Sadly indeed Jill. (I’m from Leeds 🙂 but a reminder that Robbie says at beginning….
“This covers the summer schedules period from 31 March (Easter Sunday) till the end of the summer schedules on 26 October but beware: airlines constantly change schedules due to demand, so please refer to these tables only as a helpful guide rather than written in stone.”
In our experience there are British Airways flights all year Barcelona to Heathrow and return.
Various buses go to Barcelona Nord bus station from Perpignan bus station. Alsa leaves at10 am direct to Terminal 1, Barcelona. There is another direct bus in the evening from the airport.