For the first time ever the region’s airport is to offer direct flights to the three main London airports: Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted
Asturias has never been closer to the main European capitals as it is today. Over the past few weeks it has closed several deals that will allow the region to connect with the five big international hubs (large flight distribution centres). This will facilitate connections to hundreds of destinations around the globe, whilst opening the door for tourism and business. Over the upcoming months, in addition to existing connections with Madrid and Barcelona, direct flights to the three main London airports, Charles de Gaulle in Paris and the Lisbon airport of Portela, are also to be added.
The importance of this news radiates not only in the possibility of catching direct flights to the five European capitals, but also in the multiple connections that will transform Asturias into a much easier destination to access from any part of the world. The model used is similar to that of a bicycle wheel: the spokes connect a central airport to hundreds of destinations. The Asturian connection to the five major European cities will now mean that passengers can travel to the Principality from practically anywhere in the world. The best part is that they can do so with only one stop and checking in just at the source airport.
Vueling, Iberia Express, Volotea and Tap in Asturias
The list of airlines that operate at the Asturias airport has grown over the past months, and currently (or towards the summer months) Vueling, Iberia Express, Volotea and Tap are, or shall be operating. Here is a brief summary of the latest changes:
- Iberia Express has already announced plans to open a new connection with Heathrow on 24th April 2016, with three weekly flights (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays). Major news is the connection with Heathrow – London’s main airport – that will link Asturias up with over 300 international destinations.
- Vueling began to sell flights from Asturias – Gatwick (London) in February 2016. The first flights will begin from 3rd May 2016 and five weekly connections are envisaged. With this incorporation, Vueling adds yet a new destination to those already in action with Paris, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, Lanzarote and Mallorca.
- Volotea also announced a new link to add to its current European destinations, with the inclusion of Venice. After some trial flights over Easter Week and Christmas, on 27th May this year the connection with Italy is to become a reality. In the near future (2017), flights are announced from Munich, which will be added to existing national flights to Seville, Malaga, Alicante, Valencia, Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca.
- Tap is expanding and its flights to Lisbon will be daily from 1st June this year. This new change implies a 78% increase in the number of seats available.
In short, a whole series of good news that brings Asturias another step closer to the rest of the world, or the rest of the world to Asturias, both for tourism and business.
