Building out connectivity seems to be a thing for Loganair as it announces its latest route – connecting Norwich and Exeter.
The service will start on the 12th of July. It will operate four flights per week service across the summer season on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday – moving to Monday and Friday flights from September onwards.
It will take around 70 minutes to jet between the two locations, on Loganair’s 49-seat Embraer 145 jets.
This compares with 5 hours and 15 minutes/320-mile drive, or 6 hours or so train journey (including a long transit across London.
Lead-in fares start at £49.99 one-way including all taxes and charges, including free checked baggage allowance.
Linking with Loganair routes
The service links existing Loganair destinations. Norwich is already served from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Jersey, and Exeter from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle.
Loganair will also resume its Edinburgh-Norwich, with it to start on the 12th of July too
In Quotes
Loganair chief executive Jonathan Hinkles said:
“We are very pleased to expand our commitment to Norwich and Exeter with this direct service, connecting two important UK business and leisure locations. We’re sure this new connection will be warmly welcomed by customers travelling for work reasons and by those – just as soon as they can – travelling to visit friends and family.”
“The need for domestic connectivity has been clearly recognised by the UK Government with its stated intention to reform Air Passenger Duty on domestic flights. There is no doubt the high level of APD has historically rendered such links as Norwich to Exeter economically difficult to sustain.”
“The fact that 42 of Flybe’s 46 lost domestic routes have now been restored also shows the resilience and the importance of supporting the UK’s domestic airlines and this ‘team effort’ across the industry is something of which we should we all be proud.”
Exeter Airport operations director Stephen Wiltshire said:
“It’s marvellous that Loganair is re-establishing the link between Exeter and Norwich, which is a key route for business, tourism and reconnecting family and friends kept apart by the pandemic.”
“Importantly, this launch fills another gap left by the collapse of Flybe, with almost every domestic destination from Exeter now being restored by Loganair and other carriers over the coming months.”
Norwich Airport managing director Richard Pace said:
“We’re delighted Loganair is re-establishing the link between Norwich and Exeter. We also welcome Loganair’s decision to restart the route to Edinburgh in July.”
“In launching these routes, Loganair is putting its trust in the UK Government to deliver on its promise to reduce domestic Air Passenger Duty which is critical to the recovery and sustainability of domestic flying.”
Recovering from the loss of Flybe
Whilst there may be the talk of someone buying Flybe’s slots, Loganair is getting on with reconnecting the dots, with six other airlines operating 42 of the UK Domestic routes that fell when Flybe collapsed.
That’s no mean feat, as the preference if travelling domestically is to jump in the car or go by train.
The issue, of course, will be the long-term viability of these routes. As you can see, Loganair is committing one of its Embraer E145 to the route. That at best seats 49 people.
It’ll be interesting to see how this service survives in the longer term.
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