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.
SUMMER 2024
Very few changes since our spring edition, this airport news bulletin sees us through to the end of the summer schedules ending on 26 October. PLEASE REMEMBER TO REFER TO THIS ARTICLE AS A HELPFUL GUIDE ONLY. Airlines constantly change schedules and add or cancel flights according to demand, and this was compiled well before publication due to printing deadline demands.
FRANCE
PERPIGNAN
Starting off with our very own local airport, good to see a few UK offerings. P-O Life editors Kate and Laura, both Yorkshire lasses, are particularly pleased to see the Leeds flights still on the menu!
Did you know that Perpignan airport now has a brand-new waiting areas especially for families with entertaining games for the youngest, a reading corner for the quietest and even seats near the sockets to recharge smartphones
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.
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.
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 | 3-5 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
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 services in particular 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)
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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.
Hi
I am flying into Beziers airport on Sunday 4th August and land at 10am.
I then need to get to Beziers train station, to catch a train to Narbonne.
It looks as if there is a shuttle bus from Beziers airport to the station, but I’m not sure if it is direct, or if it goes to the bus station first.
Any information about the shuttle bus (number, location, cost, timetable, route etc) would be very gratefully received!
Many thanks
Claire
Hi Claire, this is really just for comments, not a Q & A. I suggest you ask on our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/polifemag
Bonne chance