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, but manages to fit in many hours trawling local airport sites to keep us up to date with flights between the region and UK & Irish airports….and any other airport news that seems relevant.
A word from Robbie
Airlines are constantly changing schedules due to demand, so apologies if I have missed any. My best suggestion is to constantly monitor the airline websites yourself. Winter schedules start on Sunday 27 October until Saturday 29 March.
FRANCE
PERPIGNAN
Afraid that Ryanair still have the blinkers on. As Ryanair operate Stansted-Perpignan at least three times a week (except peak season) they could easily fill Gatwick-Perpignan flights once or twice a week even in winter, but once again no Ryanair flights to the UK or Ireland in their winter schedules. Similarly, Aer Lingus only operate their Dublin service in summer. COME ON RYANAIR! LOADS OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS FABULOUS LITTLE AIRPORT AND PLENTY OF BRITISH AND IRISH WHO WOULD BE HAPPY TO PUT BUMS ON SEATS IN WINTER.
BEZIERS
Like Carcassonne, Ryanair has a free run at this small airport, but come the winter schedules only Luton survives.
| From | N° of weekly flights | Airline |
| LUTON | 2 | RYANAIR 27 Oct 29 Mar |
CARCASSONNE
Ryanair remains the sole operator here, however services reduced significantly in winter with only Manchester and Stansted surviving.
| From | N° of weekly flights | Airline |
| MANCHESTER | 2 | RYANAIR 27 Oct – 25 Mar |
| STANSTED | 2 | RYANAIR 27 Oct – 25 Mar |
MONTPELLIER
easyJet operate from both Gatwick and Luton. The latter only for a short period during the summer. British Airways have a new Gatwick service which once again only operates in the summer months.
| From | N° of weekly flights | Airline |
| GATWICK | 8 | EASYJET 27 Oct – 29 Mar |
NIMES
Ryanair is the sole operator for P-O readers, but nothing at all in the winter.
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. This winter there are no Aer Lingus flights from Dublin, but they are due to restart on 30 March 2025.
| From | N° of weekly flights | Airline |
| BRISTOL | 4 | EASYJET 27 Oct – 28 Mar |
| GATWICK | 6 | EASYJET 27 Oct – 3 Nov |
| HEATHROW | 18 | BRITISH AWYS 27 Oct-29 Mar |
| STANSTED | 10 | RYANAIR 26 Oct -29 Mar |
| DUBLIN | 2 | RYANAIR 27 Oct – 29 Mar |
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. It will be interesting to see if recent protests by the locals against tourists has any effect on the amazing number of flights to the city. Ryanair still have a good selection of flights, and have increased the number of flights from the awful Stansted. Jet2 oddly have a break in their services from late November to mid February.
| From | N° of weekly flights | Airline |
| BIRMINGHAM | 2 2 8 4 | EASYJET 27 Oct 28 Mar JET2 27 Oct – 27 Mar RYANAIR 27 Oct – 29 Mar. VUELING 30 Oct – 29 Mar |
| BRISTOL | 12 4 | EASYJET 27 Oct – 28 Mar RYANAIR 27 Oct – 29 Mar |
| EDINBURGH | 2 | RYANAIR 28 Oct – 29 Mar |
| GATWICK | 28 54 | EASYJET 27 Oct – 29 Mar VUELING 27 Oct – 29 Mar |
| GLASGOW INT’L | 2 | EASYJET 27 Oct – 27 Mar |
| GLASGOW PRESTWICK | 2 | RYANAIR 27 Oct – 29 Mar |
| HEATHROW | 53 14 | BRITISH AWYS 27 Oct–29 Mar VUELING 27 Oct – 29 Mar |
| LEEDS BRADFORD | 2 2 | JET2 28 Oct – 25 Nov JET2 14 Feb – 28 Mar |
| LIVERPOOL | 2-3 2 | EASYJET 28 Oct – 28 Mar RYANAIR 27 Oct – 29 Mar |
| LONDON CITY | 4 | BRITISH AWYS 27 Oct–29 Mar |
| LUTON | 11 3 | EASYJET 27 Oct – 29 Mar RYANAIR 27 Oct – 29 Mar |
| MANCHESTER | 3-5 1-4 12 7 | EASYJET 27 Oct – 28 Mar JET2 27 Oct – 28 March RYANAIR 27 Oct – 29 Mar VUELING 27 Oct – 29 Mar |
| NEWCASTLE | 2 | RYANAIR 27 Oct – 29 Mar |
| STANSTED | 32 | RYANAIR 27 Oct – 29 Mar |
| CORK | 2 | RYANAIR 27 Oct – 25 March |
| DUBLIN | 11 21 7 | AER LINGUS 27 Oct – 29 Mar RYANAIR 27 Oct – 29 Mar VUELING 27 Oct – 29 Mar |
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 737-8-200, 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 increased significantly during the summer, but once again come the winter they have almost disappeared, only Stansted remains. Rather strangely Jet2 flights operate only for a few days at the start of the winter schedules.
| From | N° of weekly flights | Airline |
| BIRMINGHAM | 2
| JET2 28 Oct – 1 Nov |
| BRISTOL | 1
| JET2 2 Nov only |
| LEEDS BRADFORD | 2
| JET2 27 Oct – 3 Nov |
| MANCHESTER | 2 | JET2 28 Oct – 1 Nov |
| NEWCASTLE | 1 | JET2 27 Oct – 3 Nov |
| STANSTED | 2 3 | JET2 30 Oct – 2 Nov RYANAIR 27 Oct – 29 Mar |
**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.**
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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.
We use Alsa bus from Perpignan bus station direct to Barcelona Terminal 1 leaving at about 10 am. There are other buses to Barcelona Nord, the main bus station from there it is relatively easy to get to the airport.
Please note that online booking is only available about 3 months beforehand.