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TUI no-frills to fly from Coventry
Thomson has announced that it will launch a no-frills carrier from Coventry Airport on 31 March. Thomsonfly.com, billed by the operator as a “low fares” airline, will fly to ten European destinations. One-way fares will start at £17.99 to Jersey; £19.99 to Rome, Pisa, Venice, Nice and Marseilles; £22.99 to Naples, Valencia, Palma and Ibiza and £24.99 to Malaga. Managing director of TUI UK, Chris Mottershead, said: “The travel market is changing as we see trends towards self-packaging, shorter breaks and a demand for greater flexibility. Thomson says that it expects the self-packaged breaks market to grow 50% in the next four years, based on sales figures and data from the International Passenger Survey. Thomson is trying to drive bookings online at www.Thomsonfly.com, by adding a £5 fee for call centre bookings. Thomson Fly is a division of Britannia Airways, and aircraft and flight staff will be supplied by Britannia Airways and TUI Airline Management. Passengers will need to pay for food and drink on board, but will also be able to buy gifts. Coventry Airport says it is investing “substantial sums” to improve facilities. The airport was bought by the Air Atlantique Group in 1998 from Coventry City Council. It currently handles freight and private charter flights. There are plans for a new terminal building, subject to planning regulations, which will have the capacity to handle around one million departing passengers per year. Thomson says it hopes the launch will lead to the creation of around 200 in the first year of operation and many other indirect jobs in the surrounding area. Peter Burns, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce’s Coventry Branch Council, said: “The bottom line is that this would be a very good move for business in Coventry and Warwickshire and would provide a massive boost to the area’s economy.” He added: “It will make the sub-region a far more attractive place for inward investment and the convenience of Europe-wide business travel from our doorstep will help the competitiveness of companies here.”
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