Bangkok--Nov 7--eTurboNews
The German low cost airline Air Berlin is to step up its competition in the UK marketplace by adding domestic UK routes to its schedule, and using London Stansted as a transfer hub. It will be the first foreign airline to challenge existing carriers on routes within Great Britain when it launches new services from Glasgow and Manchester to London Stansted in December, as part
of a major expansion in the UK.
"Our UK customers already know and value our service so it makes sense for Air Berlin to increase our presence in the British market," said Air Berlin managing partner, Joachim Hunold. "In doing so, we become the first German airline to fly inside Britain. After all, our rivals are competing with us in the German market - so we will enjoy challenging them here."
The baseline fares to London will be EURO19 one-way, and flights will connect with onward flights to seven German cities - Berlin, Dusseldorf, Leipzig, Nuremberg, Munster, Hanover and Paderborn, via Air Berlin's new transfer hub at London Stansted.
Until now, Stansted has been used only for point-to-point flights - passengers could change planes and fly onto other destinations but were required to collect their luggage and check it in again for the new flight. With the Air Berlin hub, passengers from other UK airports travelling to Germany via Stansted can do so easily while their luggage is automatically transported to the connecting plane.
Air Berlin is Europe's third largest low cost carrier, after EasyJet and Ryanair. As well as increasing its presence at Stansted, it will start flying to Bournemouth on the south coast of England from Paderborn. A Euro Shuttle service to Southampton will be discontinued. Next summer Air Berlin will offer flights from Manchester to Palma de Mallorca.
Flights into Glasgow will be conveniently timed to attract passengers from Germany, offering a major boost for inbound business and leisure tourism to Scotland.
Stephen Baxter, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: "With connections to some of Germany's major cities, as well as dozens of destinations across Europe, we're confident Air Berlin's low cost flights will prove popular with Scots.
"The new service is also attractively timed for travellers from Germany and provides major opportunities for inbound tourism. Germany remains a relatively untapped market, one with huge potential for the Scottish tourist industry.
"This is a real opportunity for Glasgow and we hope today's announcement will, in time, lead to further expansion into Germany. We look forward to working with Air Berlin to develop the full potential of this new service."
Passengers from Glasgow who wish to travel to Germany via Stansted can do so easily while their luggage is automatically transported to the connecting plane. Average transfer times will be 45 to 60 minutes.
Scott Taylor, chief executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: "Germany is the top European country supplying short break visitors to Glasgow, so today's announcement by Air Berlin is fantastic news. Not only will we see continued growth in the short break market from Germany, but the new service will also increase ease of access to Glasgow for conference delegates."
Air Berlin was voted top short haul airline in the Guardian, The Observer and Guardian Unlimited 2005 Travel awards.
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