Dogfight as Germanwings doubles UK flights

Low-cost carrier Germanwings is to double capacity from the UK with the launch of flights from Gatwick this summer. EasyJet responded by annoucing the start of flights on the same route later in the year, bringing its Gatwick network up to 18 destinations. Germanwings will run two flights a day to Cologne from Gatwick, matching the frequency of service already offered from Stansted. The new route from May will provide onward connections to 29 European destinations via Cologne. This will give the German carrier a four month head start over easyJet which is to start daily Gatwick-Cologne flights from September 27 with single fares starting at £22.99. Germanwings, which typically offers fares starting at £13 one-way including taxes, aims to offer morning and evening departures from Gatwick. Germanwings managing diector Joachim Klein said: “We are delighted to have secured valuable slots at Gatwick airport. We will now be able to offer both our UK and German customers an additional low cost route from London.” ALSO READ: ABTA FRAUD LATEST: Executive named Report by Phil Davies