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.

air

SUMMER 2023

As is the norm in airline scheduling there have been some small changes since our last Airport News. Although Nimes and Avignon to the P-O are not ‘la porte à coté’ it is a pleasant train ride between the two along the Mediterranean coast, and don’t forget, those over 60 years old get a 10% discount on train tickets. 

The following  schedules cover the Summer and early Autumn period until 28 October. 

Remember that the timetables below are just a guide. Airlines constantly change schedules according to demand, so apologies if there are any I have missed.   

Winter schedules will start on Sunday 29th October. Safe travel! 



FRANCE

PERPIGNAN

Good news for Yorkshire lass Kate, Ryanair have listed twice-weekly flights to Perpignan from Leeds Bradford. If you haven’t travelled from this airport recently, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the makeover to the departure lounge which now has shop, extra space upstairs and smiling, helpful, English speaking staff to help you out if you need advice. 

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
BIRMINGHAM 2 RYANAIR 1 June-26 Oct 
DUBLIN 3 AER LINGUS 3 May-30 Sep 
LEEDS BRADFORD 2 RYANAIR 1 June-26 Oct 
STANSTED  5 RYANAIR 26 March-26 Oct 

BEZIERS

Béziers airport

Like Carcassonne, Ryanair has a free run at this small airport. 

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
BRISTOL 2-3 RYANAIR 26 March-25 Oct 
EDINBURGH 2 RYANAIR 27 March-26 Oct 
LUTON 2 RYANAIR 29 March28 Oct 
MANCHESTER 3 RYANAIR 27 March-28 Oct 
SHANNON 2 RYANAIR 27 March-27 Oct 
STANSTED 3 RYANAIR 28 March-28 Oct 

CARCASSONNE

Ryanair remains the sole operator here. Last September my wife flew Carcassonne-Cork, booking only a few weeks notice – the fare was €15 !  

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
EAST MIDLANDS 2 RYANAIR 1 June-26 Oct 
EDINBURGH 2 RYANAIR 27 March-26 Oct 
MANCHESTER 3-4 RYANAIR 26 March-27 Oct 
STANSTED 7 RYANAIR 26 March-28 Oct 
CORK 2 RYANAIR 28 March-28 Oct 
DUBLIN 4 RYANAIR 27 March-28 Oct 

MONTPELLIER

EasyJet operate from both Gatwick and Luton. The latter only for a short period. The British Airways flight from Heathrow appears not to be operating again this year, though they have just announced a new thrice weekly Gatwick service, operated by their Gatwick subsidiary British Airways Euroflyer 

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
GATWICK13EASYJET 26 March-28 Oct
LUTON3EASYJET 27 June-2 Sep
GATWICK3BRITISH AWYS 27 May-28 Oct

NIMES

Ryanair is the sole operator for P-O readers. Luton has been dropped, but Dublin and Edinburgh are now served along with Stansted. 

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
DUBLIN 2 RYANAIR 1 May-26 Oct 
EDINBURGH 2 RYANAIR 29 March-28 Oct 
STANSTED 2 RYANAIR 29 March-28 Oct 

TOULOUSE / BLAGNAC

Ryanair have added service to Birmingham whilst Manchester has been introduced by Jet2.  

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
BIRMINGHAM 2 RYANAIR 28 March-28 Oct 
BRISTOL 7 EASYJET 26 March-28 Oct 
EDINBURGH 3 RYANAIR 27 March-28 Oct 
GATWICK 4-6 EASYJET 26 March-28Oct 
HEATHROW 28 BRITISH AWYS 26 Mar-28 Oct 
STANSTED 10 RYANAIR 26 March-28 Oct 
DUBLIN 

3 

3 

AER LINGUS 26 March-28 Oct 

RYANAIR 27 March-27 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. Ryanair now operate flights from Luton and Newcastle, though Prestwick has been dropped.

There are now four operators on the Manchester route. easyJet have dropped the Newcastle and Southend service but added Manchester.

This summer Vueling are no longer offering flights from Belfast City, Cardiff, Cork and Newcastle. Glasgow has lost the Jet2 service but gained easyJet. Jet2 have added Birmingham. 

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
BELFAST INT’L 3-5 EASYJET 27 March-27 Oct  
BIRMINGHAM 

2 

6 

7 

JET2 26 March-29 Oct 

RYANAIR 27 March-28 Oct 

VUELING 26 March-28 Oct 

BRISTOL 

10-14 

5 

EASYJET 26 March-28 Oct 

RYANAIR 27 March-28 Oct 

EAST MIDLANDS 7 RYANAIR 26 March-28 Oct 
EDINBURGH 

9 

4 

RYANAIR 26 March-28 Oct 

VUELING 26 March-27 Oct 

GATWICK 

24-33 

53 

EASYJET 26 March-28 Oct 

VUELING 26 March-28 Oct 

GLASGOW INT’L 2 EASYJET 26 March-28 Oct  
HEATHROW 49 BRITISH AWYS 26 Mar-28 Oct 
LEEDS BRADFORD 2-4 JET2 27 March-30 Oct 
LIVERPOOL 

3-7 

5 

EASYJET 26 March-27 Oct 

RYANAIR 27 March-28 Oct 

LUTON 

12-14 

5 

EASYJET 26 March-28 Oct 

RYANAIR 26 March-27 Oct  

MANCHESTER 

4-5 

6-7 

10 

10 

JET2 26 March-31 Oct 

EASYJET 26 March-28 Oct 

RYANAIR 26 March-28 Oct 

VUELING 26 March-28 Oct 

NEWCASTLE 2 RYANAIR 26 March-26 Oct 
STANSTED 28 RYANAIR 26 March-28 Oct 
DUBLIN 

14 

19 

11 

AER LINGUS 26 March-28 Oct 

RYANAIR 26 March-28 Oct  

VUELING 26 March-28 Oct 

Time to kill at Barcelona airport

It can be quite pleasant hanging about at Barcelona airport. Test a few perfumes, wander around the shops, enjoy a cold beer and tapas in one of the many snack bars…

But if you can keep your hire car a little longer,  why not wait on the beach? Check out a couple of seaside towns near Barcelona El Prat Airport worth a visit.

Around 20 minute drive from the airport….

Sitges 

Lively and authentic Spanish seaside resort with delightful old town full of attractive buildings, shops and restaurants, bars and museums, pleasant beach and pretty marina.

Around 25 minute drive from the airport….

Vilanova i la Geltrú 

Pretty marina, plenty of shops and great fish restaurants, old walls, medieval castle, museums, ancient church and clean, wide beaches.

Or just behind the airport…

El Prat de Llobregat beach

Long and sandy beach, perfect for ‘plane spotters so you’re sure to get a crick in your neck as they land and take off just over your head every 5 minutes or so!

(Warning: the area between the airport and the beach is a little dodgy! There are buses but it is suggested that you only choose this option if you can get there by car.) 

GIRONA

Ryanair have added Belfast, Birmingham, East Midlands, Manchester and Shannon. Jet2 who suddenly found the airport two years ago once again have a whole raft of flights. 

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
BELFAST 1-2 RYANAIR 31 March-27 Oct 
BIRMINGHAM 

2 

2 

JET2 1 May-27 Oct 

RYANAIR 3 June-28 Oct 

BOURNEMOUTH 2-5 RYANAIR 31 March-28 Oct 
BRISTOL 

1 

4-6 

JET2 27 May-30 Oct 

RYANAIR 27 March-28 Oct 

CORK 2-4 RYANAIR 26 March-27 Oct 
DUBLIN 2-6 RYANAIR 27 March-27 Oct 
EAST MIDLANDS 

1 

2 

JET2 27 May-28 Oct 

RYANAIR 26 March-22 Oct 

GLASGOW 1 JET2 28 May-24 Sep 
KNOCK 2 RYANAIR 1 June-26 Oct 
LEEDS BRADFORD 

2 

4 

JET2  From 30 April-29 Oct 

RYANAIR 2 June-26 Oct 

MANCHESTER 

2-4 

2 

JET2 1 May-30 Oct 

RYANAIR 1 June-26 Oct 

NEWCASTLE 1 JET2 7 May-29 Oct 
SHANNON 2 RYANAIR 1 June-26 Oct 
STANSTED 

2 

7 

JET2 1 May-30 Oct 

RYANAIR 26 March-28 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

PERPIGNAN

www.aeroport-perpignan.com

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.

CARCASSONNE

www.aeroport-carcassonne.com

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

www.beziers-aeroport.fr

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.

GIRONA

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€.

BARCELONA

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.



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