Norwich Airport chief executive Andrew Bell.
Photo by Simon Finlay
Norwich airport sales outperforming expectations says chief executive Andrew Bell
Thursday, February 9, 2012
12:40 PM
Bosses at Norwich International Airport said early bookings for summer 2012 holiday flights have out performed the UK market.
The airport said that figures released today indicate a “fantastic” year on year increase in passengers booked to the end of January with some routes being over 50pc up against a UK market which is reported to be down 14pc.
The best performing destinations are Bulgaria, Madeira and Turkey with one in June already 80pc sold and another reporting double the number of passengers booked compared to sales at this stage last year.
In addition the new scheduled routes to Exeter, Isle of Man, Newquay and Southampton recently launched by Loganair/Flybe are all performing ahead of expectation with excellent early sales, the airport said.
Andrew Bell, the airport’s chief executive, said: “The appeal of flying from your local airport cannot be underestimated as these early booking figures indicate. Given the current economic climate it is very pleasing for sales to be significantly ahead of this time last year and we are delighted to work with leading tour operators and airlines to bring some of the most popular destinations to the holidaymakers in East Anglia.”
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18 comments
The problem with the ADF is that it is so "noticeable", you will find that other airports will include this cost in various charges, be it parking, trolley hire,food costs etc and it all becomes more palatable . This airport is a fantastic stress free place to travel through. I am always perplexed that people complain about lack of destinations, every business is based on supply and demand. There would be daily flights to Sydney from NWI if there was demand ! However, this is sparsely populated area with a fiercely competitive airport 80 miles down the A11. It is very hard to run an operation like NWI in this world, it's like the corner shop against the Supermarket, nothing more complicated than that . Good luck to NWI , it's a great asset to Norfolk and a nice bunch of people who work there.
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augustuspablo
Friday, February 10, 2012
Holiday flight numbers may be up, but until the airport is able to offer a proper schedule of international flights, numbers will never be anything like they either were or should be.
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malaga flier
Friday, February 10, 2012
malboroughkim - what's sensible in paying a premium for a holiday to a very limited choice of destinations determined by an airport that alienates its customer-base with a controversial fee when a 1.5 hour drive can avoid all of this?
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AE
Friday, February 10, 2012
Its good to see there are others out there talking sense..see comment by 'Rorping'. I booked my next holiday at the recent Travel Fair at NAL and glad to see so many other locals doing the same.
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malboroughkim
Friday, February 10, 2012
Yes the Airport has had a hard time over the past three years but so have all the others around the country, a big down turn in people taking to the skys. As we drag ourselfs out of the present situation the airport will recover and with that will come more flights and the good thing being ,it is on our doorstep
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Rorping
Friday, February 10, 2012
Airport must be doing well! Only 2 examples of this they can come up with are 2 flights, one only 80% full and another with twice vas many people as last year. might have 2 rather than 1!! Impression i get (And i use Norwich quite often) is that the Airport is a lot emptier than it has been for a number of years. I know a lot of frequent flyers who now use Stanstead, regular users of the Airport should have a season ticket for the ADF tax.
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DaveG
Friday, February 10, 2012
Abraham, as you say , it is my choice and also the choice of dwindling passenger numbers and airlines too, as they are deserting the 'airport' for other, more customer friendly airports. It is already more expensive to travel from here, without the ADF, facilities are atrocious and until they drop this fee, they will continue to lose business. One question, would you pay £10 every time that you went into Castle Mall (or any other shopping venue that yo care to name) in order that they could 'improve' their facilities?
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IT Man
Friday, February 10, 2012
TheNorwich Airport escape tax has been £10 for 2 months now. Airport has been empty the last 2 times i have used it this year to go to Aberdeen. And the shop closes for 30 minutes in the morning for a cuppa!! International by name, rural by nature
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DaveG
Friday, February 10, 2012
The airport is a great asset for the local area but would do much better if it was under different control. You only have to see the massive improvements at Southend Airport under the highly impressive Stobart Group. Unfortunately, the present owners have no funds for investment hence the Airport Development Fee.
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Bob Hunt
Thursday, February 9, 2012
IT Man, its your choice, but without the fee, there will be no Norwich airport, provincial, national or international. I will keep supporting it, its great for our region to have it.
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Abraham
Thursday, February 9, 2012
I love flying from NIA, but they do not go to where we want to go, when we want to go, ie, why no winter flights to Grand Canaria anymore, they were always full when we went.
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peter99
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Bulgaria last year had several cancelled flights because of not enough people! I refuse to use Norwich provincial airport until the ADF is dropped and I know many people who think the same - Vauxhall holiday park? It is cheaper to go abroad ( even flying from Norwich)!!! AND guaranteed sunshine. Forget UK holidays!
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IT Man
Thursday, February 9, 2012
And they are still making a loss.. What happened to mentioning the £5 soon to be £10 theft ?
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"V"
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Well said John - I find it cheaper to use Easyjet from Stanstead , and better aircraft to Edinburgh - with more choice - and NO airport surcharge! I wont use Norwich until the surcharge is dropped.
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biglingers
Thursday, February 9, 2012
There's nothing like making statistics saying what you want them to.
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John L Norton
Thursday, February 9, 2012
given the economic situation, holidaymakers should be supporting local resorts, there is nothing wrong with vauxhall holiday park and you don't need to fly there
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blister
Thursday, February 9, 2012
"The appeal of flying from your local airport"...at a premium price,shopuld have been added to this comment !!
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Albert Cooper
Thursday, February 9, 2012
There's no "f" in chief..... ;)
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merrydancer
Thursday, February 9, 2012