Stansted-Amsterdam air link lost

Basiq Air is scrapping flights between Stansted and Amsterdam in favour of a service to Rotterdam. The Amsterdam flight, which launched in May last year, is being scrapped less than a year later on 27 March. It is being replaced by a twice daily return service to Rotterdam, about an hour’s drive away. Fares will start at £49 return including taxes and charges. The decision by Basiq Air means there is no direct service between Stansted and Amsterdam. The carrier says it is expanding operations at Rotterdam because it can achieve economies of scale and cut costs by basing three aircraft at the airport. Basiq is also launching six other flights out of Rotterdam to Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Dublin, and Gerona for the Summer, in addition to existing services to Alicante and Malaga. Basiq Air president and chief executive, Onno van den Brink says Rotterdam is fast growing as a business and leisure destination, and says he hopes flights to the city will further stimulate tourism in the region. Basiq Air is maintaining some service out of Amsterdam Schipol including four flights a week to Verona and six per week to Venice. Services to Palma de Mallorca and Seville from Amsterdam are being scrapped.