Irish regional carrier Aer Arran is to serve four destinations in mainland Europe through a franchise agreement with Nex Aviation.
The franchise will add Amsterdam, Bordeaux, Malaga, and Faro to the carrier’s network from Galway and Waterford starting on May 1.
Flights will operate daily from both airports to alternate destinations, with prices starting at €80 one way including tax.
The services will be sold as part of the Aer Arann network using a 100-seat BAe 146-200 jet. This aircraft will operate alongside Aer Arann’s current fleet of 14 ATR turbo-prop aircraft.
This announcement follows the 2007 delivery of two new ATR 72-500 aircraft, the first in a fleet of 10 to be delivered by 2009.
The airline’s managing director Garry Cullen said: “This announcement represents significant route opportunity for Aer Arann.
“These four new destinations will provide greater choice and easier access to continental Europe for our customers in the west and south east of Ireland.
“In addition to the sun destinations, this route expansion offers services to Amsterdam Schiphol. Schiphol offers the best connections of any airport in the world, with more than 260 destinations in 91 countries.
“Aer Arann’s partnership with Nex Aviation allows us to expand our range and underpins the Aer Arann strategy of connecting regional Ireland to the UK and mainland Europe. Of course, the inflight experience offered on board will be the same high quality that Aer Arann’s passengers expect”.
by Phil Davies
