Jet2 to base second B737 aircraft at Blackpool

Hi

The local news in Blackpool is reporting that Jet2.com will be basing a Second Boeing 737-300 at Blackpool Airport. The second aircraft will join the the blackpool base once the first aircraft arrives start operating its new services to Palma and Murcia. All acounts advance bookings are high on its 3 new routes from Blackpool for summer 2006. The Airline commenced operations into blackpool with a 4 times weekly Belfast service 2 weeks ago.

The airline Jet2.com is looking at announceing new city break destinations from Blackpool very shortly.

Anyway heres the report in the local paper

Budget airline is really taking off
LOW-cost airline Jet2.com is doubling its fleet at Blackpool International Airport.
Following the success of its first service from the resort to Belfast, the Leeds/Bradford-based airline also said it planned to add city breaks to its routes from Blackpool.
But bosses at the company are keeping tight-lipped about where they plan to fly to next.
Last week’s sell-out flight to Northern Ireland has been followed up by a week of successful flights – which have forced Jet2.com bosses to expand their fleet from one aeroplane to two at the Squires Gate terminal.
The airline will have one of its planes based at the airport after the take-off of its first service to Palma in Majorca next spring.
But with the number of passengers passing through the terminal expecting to hit the one million mark by the end of next year, the airline has decided to extend its franchise at Blackpool International.
Philip Meeson, chief executive of the company, said: “With Blackpool offering such a great service with our routes we have decided to base a second Boeing 737 at the terminal after the first batch of flights to the Spanish mainland next year.
“This will make it easier for us to get more flights out of the terminal and allow us to add more routes to the existing services.
“We are already talking of adding city breaks to the existing routes here at Blackpool.
“Flying to the sun is all very good but a lot of people want to explore other cities on the continent.”
Destinations under consideration are thought to include Munich, Paris, Amsterdam and Turin.
Mr Meeson added: “Blackpool has exciting prospects and we at Jet2.com want to be a part of that.
“We hope that come the summer, we will have added more services to the existing three that we currently have on our books.”
Meanwhile, Blackpool International Airport owners City Hopper are thought to be closing in on the sale of the South West’s largest regional airport.
Exeter Airport – which is home to fast growing no-frills airline Flybe – is at the centre of a £100m takeover bid.
Paul Whelan, executive chairman of City Hopper, said: “We are very close to a decision on the sale of Exeter Airport. We have been in discussion for several months are we are expecting an announcement very soon.”