Regional & City Airports completes deal to guarantee winter and summer sunshine flights for Norwich International Airport
Regional & City Airports (RCA), the leading UK regional airport operator, has strengthened its strategic relationship with Flybe to introduce year-round scheduled holiday flights at Norwich Airport with seats available for booking from early November following the release of Flybe’s 2016 Summer schedule.
The partnership, which involves significant investment from both parties, will see the return of scheduled sunshine flights to Norwich for the first time in almost a decade.
Year round services from Norwich Airport to Alicante and Malaga will start in March 2016 in time for the Easter getaway, with the addition of Geneva expected later in 2016.
Sir Peter Rigby, Chairman and Founder of RCA owners Rigby Group, said: “Since taking ownership of Norwich Airport a year ago we have been firm on our commitment to invest in the future of the site. Today, with a milestone agreement guaranteeing the continued operation of scheduled winter and summer holiday routes from the airport, we have underlined that determination with some very concrete results.
“I am confident that this announcement, which provides tangible proof of the exciting future facing Norwich, will be just first of many positive developments.”
Andrew Bell, who heads up RCA (Regional and City Airports) the airport management division of Rigby Group PLC and owners of Norwich, said: “This is a tremendously exciting time. For nine years the issue of reviving scheduled sunshine flights from Norwich has been the number one priority issue raised by our customers, and to see them return from 2016 will be hugely welcomed across the region.” Richard Pace, General Manager of NAL, commented: “Ever since Rigby Group acquired Norwich Airport it has been our stated aim to protect existing routes while establishing new ones, and today’s announcement underlines that commitment. Not only does this partnership secure scheduled holiday flights from Norwich, but it also provides a firm foundation from which to build for future expansion.”
The partnership will see one of Flybe’s Embraer 195 aircraft return to the skies, and planning is already underway to maximise its use by the airport. The initial destinations will be available for booking next month, and RCA plans to investigate the possibility of adding additional routes where there is sustainable demand.