Thomson goes low-cost with Spain flights

16 December 2003

LONDON- British tour operator Thomson is to launch a new low-cost airline next Spring with flights to ten European destinations, including four in Spain, the company announced Tuesday.

The four Spanish destinations are Palma, Valencia, Malaga and Ibiza, all popular Mediterranean resort destinations for British holidaymakers.

Thomson Managing Director Chris Mottershead said the new carrier would be called Thomsonfly and begin operations from 31 March from Coventry in central England.

Rome, Naples, Nice, Venice, Pisa, Marseilles and Jersey in the Channel Islands are the other planned destinations.

With the launch, Thomson will join other low-cost European carriers which have appeared in recent years to serve popular regional routes from out-of-the-way airports.

On the Thomson website, one-way ticket prices from Coventry to Valencia, Palma and Ibiza were listed at EUR 16.78 or GBP 11.99 and to Malaga at EUR 19.58 or GBP 13.99, excluding taxes and charges.

“The travel market is changing and now there is more demand for package holidays, short breaks and improved flexibility, and we want to take advantage of this growth in the airline business,” Mottershead said.

easyjet and Ryanair have already established themselves in the low-cost market with many flights to Spain.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news