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 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. 



Blague bête

Checked into Leeds to fly to Perpignan yesterday and was asked “Window or aisle?”   

“Window” I replied “or you’ll what?” 

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 

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
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 

PERPIGNAN AIRPORT ALSO OFFERS FLIGHTS TO...

  • Agadir, Morocco (Ryanair) 
  • Brussels-Charleroi, Belgium (Ryanair) 
  • Marrakech, Morocco (Ryanair) 
  • Nantes, France (Volotea) 
  • Lille, France (Volotea) 
  • Paris Orly (Transavia) 

BEZIERS

Béziers airport

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

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
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.

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
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 

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
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. 

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
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.  

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
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. 

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
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 

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

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.  

FromN° of weekly flightsAirline
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

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.



Blague bête

My friend was arrested for stealing luggage from the airport but his trial only lasted 5 minutes. 

It was a brief case!

Comments


  1. 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

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