Flybe to operate daily flights on Waterford-Birmingham route

Wednesday, 18th January 2012

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline and the UK’s number one domestic carrier, is to operate a new route connecting Waterford Airport with Birmingham, which was this month voted the UK’s best large airport.

The daily flights present a key tourism opportunity for Ireland’s southeast and open up a huge area of the British midlands for Irish holidaymakers, as well as offering a wide range of onwards travel options in Britain and beyond.

Announcing the new route, Andrew Strong, Managing Director, Flybe UK, said: "Flybe is committed to developing our route network throughout the regions and to keeping business and leisure travellers moving during these economically challenging times. We look forward to the start of our Waterford to Birmingham service in March and to welcoming all of our new passengers on board.”

Graham Doyle, CEO, Waterford Airport, added: "We’re delighted to welcome Flybe to Waterford and look forward to working with them to promote and develop services here. The Birmingham route is a wonderful opportunity for the tourism industry in Ireland’s southeast with direct air access to the region from the UK’s second largest city. In addition, the huge catchment area around Birmingham will allow the southeast to draw visitors from a much wider population base.

"Flybe will offer a convenient and affordable option to those flying from the southeast to one of the best located airports in Britain. The daily frequency will allow us serve more leisure and business passengers and offer convenience and time savings as well as the option of onward connections from a hub airport.”

On Monday to Friday, flights will depart Birmingham for Waterford at 2.40pm and leave Waterford for Birmingham at 4.25pm. The Saturday service will leave Birmingham at 1.55pm and depart Waterford at 3.40pm. On Sundays, the flight will depart Birmingham at 2.55pm and Waterford at 4.40pm. Flights commence on March 25 and are available to book at http://www.flybe.com with one-way fares from €33, including taxes and airport charges.

Destinations with direct onward flights from Birmingham include major European cities, a wide range of holiday resorts and a number of US cities including New York and Orlando. Flybe’s existing schedule at Birmingham allows for limited connections from Waterford to Paris, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dusseldorf in particular.

Birmingham is a diverse and dynamic city, which has been extensively rejuvenated in recent years. It offers a world-class cultural scene, superb shopping, sports and music as well as fantastic nightlife, major international events and access to some of England’s most beautiful countryside.

The New York Times recently named Birmingham among its ‘45 Places to Go in 2012’ while Olive, the BBC food magazine, named it the UK’s ‘foodiest town’. The city has three Michelin-starred restaurants as well as some of the best Asian cuisine in Europe. In addition, there are many attractions for children and young people nearby with Cadbury World on the outskirts of Birmingham; Shakespeare’s home at Stratford-upon-Avon just 45 minutes away and the Alton Towers family resort only 80 kilometres from the airport.

- Bookings for Waterford-Birmingham flights can be made at http://www.flybe.com. Further information is available at http://www.visitbirmingham.com, http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk and http://www.flywaterford.com.