flights added for Euro2004

From Travelweekly!

FLIGHTS ADDED FOR EURO 2004

THREE of the big four operators are set to add extra capacity to Portugal next summer for the 2004 European Football Championships.

First Choice, MyTravel and Thomas Cook are all looking to cash in on the extra demand from tens of thousands of England fans expected to fly out to Portugal to support their team.

First Choice is adding four flights a week to Portugal for the four weeks of the tournament which begins on June 12.

Flights lead in at £257 return and will depart on Saturdays from Gatwick and Manchester to Lisbon and Oporto.

MyTravelLite is currently in negotiations with Faro Airport to extend its opening hours so the no-frills carrier’s service from Birmingham can capitalise on any night flying capacity available.

It also plans to increase frequencies by adding flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to the programme during the tournament.

Thomas Cook said it had no concrete plans but head of trade relations Ian Derbyshire said it would add flights where it could get beds. “We expect there to be strong demand from people wanting to go on holiday and take in the football at the same time, and those that will just fly over for the games.”

TUI has ruled out putting on any extra flights for the football tournament.

A spokeswoman said the company believes its current 2004 summer timetable, which includes more than 20 flights a week from 14 UK airports to Faro, is enough to cope with demand.