Manchester Airport hits 30 million passengers for the first time in its history

6.3m passengers travelled through a MAG airport in September

Manchester Airport celebrated reaching 30 million passengers served across a 12 month period, for the first time in its history

Strong operational performance across the board cemented a strong summer period marked by record-breaking passenger numbers

Positive performance comes as CEO calls for aviation to be included in new Industrial Strategy

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) had a record-breaking summer season, highlighting strong passenger demand for air travel.

Across September 6.3m passengers travelled through a MAG airport, which was 5.7% higher than in the same month in 2023.

Rolling 12-month traffic figures show the Group – which owns Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – served 63.7m passengers in the year to September 2024, surpassing the previous record of 63.4m set in August. This means that more than 1 in 5 people from the UK have travelled through a MAG airport in the last 12 months.

Manchester Airport reached a significant milestone this month, when its rolling 12-month passenger total reached 30 million for the first time in its history, up 10.5% from September 2023. This sees Manchester Airport rub shoulders with some of the best-known airports in the world, including La Guardia, in New York and Melbourne Airport, in Australia.  

As the UK’s global gateway in the North, Manchester Airport boasts the most extensive route network outside of London with more than 200 destinations on offer. 3.1m passengers flew through in the ‘shoulder season’, up by 8% in 2023, with Mallorca and Turkey proving particularly popular.

At London Stansted Airport, another record-breaking month was celebrated with 2.7m passengers travelling through its terminal across September, a 3.4% increase on  2023. The busiest-ever September saw passengers jetting off to sun-seeking destinations including Alicante and Faro.

East Midlands Airport l welcomed nearly 500,000 passengers in September, up 4.9% on the same month in 2023. Across the month, more than 34,000 tonnes of cargo came through the hub which was an increase of 9% from 2023.

Operational performance across the Group remained strong this month, with more than 99% of passengers at East Midlands Airport and London Stansted passing through security in 15 minutes or less. At Manchester Airport, it was 98%.

Passenger numbers continue to climb at EMA

Nearly 500,000 people travelled through East Midlands Airport (EMA) in September – a five percent increase on last year which contributed to another successful summer for the airport.

The airport’s 2024 peak season has so far seen 135,500 more passengers than last year choosing to fly from the most effortless and central airport in the country.

The latest passenger figures come after EMA was ranked second in the UK for overall experience in the internationally-recognised Airport Service Quality rankings and reached the finals for Airport of the Year in two national awards. Throughout the summer, EMA has kept waiting times for security to 15 minutes or less for more than 99% of its customers. It also introduced a wide range of customer improvements in the terminal.

The airport’s peak season officially runs until the end of this month, including the October half term when many families get away to more than 70 European and North African destinations within easy reach of EMA.

Up to 30 flights a day continue to depart from EMA this month, taking people to popular Spanish destinations such as Lanzarote, Mallorca, Alicante, Malaga, Fuerteventura, Tenerife and Reus; Greek options including Corfu, Crete, Kos and Rhodes; and Turkish resorts such as Antalya, Dalaman and Bodrum.

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Destinations in Italy, Portugal, Egypt, Tunisia, Poland, Ireland and Jersey also remain on the flight schedules.

As usual, the number of flights will reduce over the winter months – although plenty of city breaks will be on offer including popular destinations for Christmas markets and routes to ski resorts in the Alps and Bulgaria. Then EMA will be gearing up for what’s expected to be an even busier summer in 2025.

EMA’s Managing Director Steve Griffiths said: “The growth in the number of people choosing to fly from East Midlands Airport is testament to our brilliant team delivering on our promise of effortless travel from the heart of the country.

“We’re welcoming more people from further afield who prefer the stress-free start to their holidays that we offer. And we’re continually in conversation with our airlines and are very confident of our ongoing growth for the summer 2025 season. In the meantime, while it’s a quieter time of the year, there are plenty of holiday options from EMA over the winter months too.”

Viking takes delivery of newest Egypt ship

Viking has taken delivery of the company’s newest ship for the Nile River, the Viking Sobek. 

The delivery ceremony took place when the new ship was presented at Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt. The 82-guest Viking Sobek joins the company’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships for the Nile River and will sail Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.

“We are proud to welcome the Viking Sobek to our award-winning fleet. In our view, these identical sister ships are by far the most elegant vessels on the Nile,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “Egypt has always been a destination of great interest among our guests, and demand for these voyages continues to be strong. With the arrival of the Viking Sobek, we look forward to introducing even more curious travellers to the country’s rich history and fascinating cultural treasures.”

The Viking Sobek & Viking’s Growing Egypt Fleet

Hosting 82 guests in 41 staterooms, the new Viking Sobek is inspired by Viking’s award-winning river and ocean ships with the elegant Scandinavian design for which Viking is known. An identical sister ship to the Viking Osiris, the Viking Aton and the Viking Hathor, the Viking Sobek features several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. Other ships in the Egypt fleet include the Viking Ra and the MS Antares. Viking plans to welcome four additional ships in the next two years—the Viking Amun and the Viking Thoth in 2025 and the Viking Sekhmet and the Viking Ptah in 2026—which would bring Viking’s fleet to 10 vessels on the Nile River.

Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary

During the 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where they can visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Grand Egyptian Museum. Guests then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River, featuring visits to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings, and excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a colorful Nubian village, where guests can experience a traditional elementary school. Finally, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.

Highclere Castle, Egypt & Viking

For years Viking has offered a variety of ways for its guests to experience life at Highclere Castle, which is the home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and the historic estate best known as the filming location of Downton Abbey. George Herbert, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon, is also the godfather of the Viking Osiris. His great-grandfather, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, was the benefactor and co-explorer of Howard Carter, the world’s most famous Egyptologist; together they discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen on November 4, 1922. Among many talents, the 5th Earl was an avid amateur photographer with an artistic eye for composition. His photographs are at Highclere Castle currently, stored in photo albums in The Library, and show the process of discovering and excavating the tomb of Tutankhamen, as well as scenes of daily life in Egypt of the period. With kind permission, the Carnarvons have allowed Viking to share this private collection for guests sailing on board the Viking Osiris and her sister ships.

For guests looking to extend their journey in Egypt, Viking also offers Pre and Post Extensions that provide Privileged Access to archives and exhibits. Guests on the five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension will begin the journey in London, where they will meet their Viking Tour Director, an expert Egyptologist, and experience Privileged Access to two museums: first, a private, early morning visit to the Egyptian Collection at the British Museum before it opens to the general public – and then a visit to the home and personal museum of world-renowned architect, Sir John Soane, where the tour will be illuminated by candlelight, a re-enactment of how Soane entertained guests and showcased his exquisite collection of Egyptian antiquities, including a 3,000-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus. Guests will also visit London’s Petrie Museum, which houses more than 80,000 artefacts from ancient Egypt and Sudan. In Oxford, guests will visit the Ashmolean Museum, one of the oldest in the world, and home to a varied collection of Egyptian mummies and art—and go behind the scenes at Oxford University’s Griffith Institute, where they will enjoy a Privileged Access visit to see Howard Carter’s archives, which detail the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb. Lastly, guests will have further Privileged Access with an exclusive visit to Highclere Castle to view the Earl of Carnarvon’s magnificent private collection of Egyptian artefacts, as well as archives and exhibits not normally accessible to the public.

Viking was rated #1 for Rivers, as well as #1 for Oceans and #1 for Expeditions, by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards for the second consecutive year. This achievement marked the first time a travel company won these three categories in back-to-back years. Viking’s Egypt ships have also been included in Condé Nast Traveler’s “Hot List” for the last two years. Viking was also named a “Best Luxury River Cruise of 2024” in Forbes’ “Best Luxury Cruises” list. Additionally, TIME magazine featured both Giza and Saqqara on its “World’s Greatest Places” 2023 list, mentioning sailing the Nile River with Viking. TIME notes that Viking is among the very few who stop in both Giza and the village of Sakkara, where excavation sites, like the megatombs of animal and human mummies, are active.

  Viking.TV | Explore the World from the Comfort of Home | 
Highclere Castle 

STARLUX Airlines launches codeshare deal with Alaska Airlines

Taiwan-based luxury carrier STARLUX Airlines recently announced the launch of its codeshare partnership with Alaska Airlines, enhancing its network in North America. The codeshare is STARLUX’s first, and provides a seamless travel experience and flexibility for passengers of both carriers. 

The codeshare flights initially cover eight domestic routes including Salt Lake City, San Diego, Phoenix, Portland, Las Vegas, Dallas, Denver, and Austin--all to Seattle, operated by Alaska Airlines. Customers are now able to book from the eight cities and the connecting flights from Seattle to Taipei operated by STARLUX on a single ticket, making check-in and luggage transfer faster and easier.

“We are thrilled to unveil our inaugural codeshare flights in collaboration with Alaska Airlines, marking a pivotal expansion of our North American network,” said Glenn Chai, CEO of STARLUX Airlines. “This codeshare makes it easier for passengers to book connecting flights and travel seamlessly between these destinations using both airlines. STARLUX will continue to forge strategic partnerships with airlines to further expand our passenger networks, fostering mutual growth and success for all involved.”

"We're proud to be STARLUX's first airline partner and excited about this next chapter in our ongoing cooperation," said Brett Catlin, vice president of loyalty, alliances and sales at Alaska Airlines. "We look forward to inviting guests on board and delighting them with the premium experience and care that Alaska is known for across the industry."

STARLUX Airlines operates a total of 31 routes, covering a comprehensive network across Asia, as well as three major cities on the U.S. West Coast: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. The Los Angeles route is set to increase from daily service to 10 flights per week starting December 22, while the Seattle route will expand from three weekly to daily flights from March 1 next year.

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Vast unveils its Final Haven-1 space station design

Vast, the US-based space habitation technology company pioneering the path to long-term living and thriving in space, today unveiled its interior design features aboard Haven-1, the world’s first commercial space station. Vast’s inaugural station combines the functionality of its state-of-the-art facilities for scientific research, technological advancement, and global collaboration in low-Earth orbit (LEO) with its remarkable dedication to sophisticated and human-centric design.

Reflecting Vast’s commitment to prioritizing the well-being and experience of its astronauts and its vision for making space accessible to all, Haven-1 will launch in 2025 with a specific focus on ensuring form and function merge to provide greater comfort and quality of life for long-term missions. The interior design is warm and welcoming, while the exterior extends this design element by introducing a key new exterior element: a centralized window, allowing astronauts to experience a full view of Earth.

Guided by the expertise of Peter Russell-Clarke, a world-renowned designer who has shaped some of Apple's most iconic products, Haven-1’s human-centric industrial design introduces new dimensions of bold creativity and efficiency, creating a new standard for interior design in space.

"Astronauts living in zero gravity pose unique design challenges. Creating an environment that is both highly efficient and naturally comforting leads to totally new results. Haven-1 interiors are unprecedented, precisely engineered and sensitively designed to ensure its occupants thrive in space," said Russell-Clarke.

Andrew Feustel, a veteran NASA astronaut with over 23 years of experience who has logged over 225 days in space on the ISS, played a critical role in advising the team as they developed the interior. “I’ve flown three missions to space, and we are learning from those experiences and innovating to improve the way we can live and work on a space station. From communication and connectivity to private space and interacting with others aboard, to advancing human progress on Earth and beyond, every detail has been designed with the astronaut experience at the core of our work,” added Feustel.

Every detail of the Haven-1 interior has been implemented with an eye for detail, creating a visual hierarchy that allows the astronauts to focus on the task at hand, monitor the station's systems, and enjoy their experience onboard. After docking with a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, Haven-1 crew members open the Haven-1 exterior hatch and are greeted by a sleek, functional layout upon entry. A real-time display shows the station status with temperature and lighting controls, and optimized cargo compartments ensure essential supplies are stored efficiently. Notably, Haven-1’s interior surfaces are soft and padded to provide an added safety component for crew and visitors as they float throughout.

FAA not good at overseeing Boeing

A federal watchdog on Friday criticized the Federal Aviation Administration's oversight of Boeing aeroplane production, saying it does not have an effective system to oversee the planemaker's individual manufacturing facilities, reports David Shepardson

The Transportation Department's Office of Inspector General said in a report the FAA's current audit processes "are not comprehensive enough to adequately identify key discrepancies and noncompliances within the Boeing production line" and said the FAA has not addressed longstanding weaknesses in Boeing’s oversight of suppliers despite long-known risks.

The FAA's oversight of Boeing has gotten new scrutiny after a door plug missing key bolts blew off a new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 jet at 16,000 feet in January, prompting the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation.

The report issued 16 recommendations. The FAA said it agrees with all of them and "is committed to continuously improving our oversight processes." The FAA added it "is currently conducting a comprehensive, systemwide review of our oversight models."

The report said the FAA has not been able to resolve allegations of undue pressure on Boeing employees acting on FAA’s behalf in a timely fashion because it has not enforced requirements that Boeing provide sufficient information on the allegations.

Boeing did not immediately comment.

The report that reviewed oversight of the Boeing 737 and 787 said the FAA "has yet to move from a reactive approach focused on addressing individual manufacturing issues to a more proactive, data-driven model to identify and address risk within Boeing’s manufacturing processes at all levels."

A series of reports in recent years have raised concerns about the FAA's oversight of Boeing. Last month, a U.S. Senate panel investigating Boeing's culture faulted oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration citing documents obtained in an ongoing investigation.
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said last month he will revamp its own safety management program. He said previously the agency was "too hands off" in oversight of Boeing before January. He took the unprecedented step in January of barring Boeing from expanding 737 MAX production until he satisfied they have made significant quality improvements.
Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Nick Zieminski

Biden-Harris administration commits $290 Million for new runway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) committed $290 million in Airport Improvement Programme (AIP) funding to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to assist with the development of its new fourth runway. 

The project broke ground in June 2023 and will allow the airport to expand flight capacity while reducing delays. The airport anticipates construction to be completed by the fall of 2027. 

“The FAA and the Biden-Harris Administration are committed to ensuring the safest and most stress-free experience for travellers possible,” said FAA Associate Administrator for Airports, Shannetta R. Griffin, P.E. “This fourth runway delivers on both – not only for travellers in and out of Charlotte but for those flying from the nearly 200 cities with routes to CLT.”

In addition to the fourth runway, the grant will also help fund the completion of north and south end-around taxiways and other airfield improvements to enhance safety and increase capacity.  

“We are thrilled to receive this notable investment from the FAA,” said CLT Chief Executive Officer Haley Gentry. “The funding will enable the airport to continue progress on this crucial and nationally significant infrastructure project, boosting capacity and operational efficiency.”

Jobs to go at Boeing and 777X deliveries postponed

Boeing has delayed the delivery of the first 777X to sometime in 2026, the company's President and CEO Kelly Ortberg revealed in an open letter to staff this week.  He cites the current strike as the key reason for the postponement. Ortberg also confirmed the commercial end of the 767 programme, when the last freighter version rolls out of the factory in 2027.

He also warns of many job losses as the company sheds at least 10% of the workforce with those unlucky to face the axe being told next week. The total number of positions to go has not been disclosed, however, is likely to be around 17,000

Here's the full letter.....

Team,

Our business is in a difficult position, and it is hard to overstate the challenges we face together. Beyond navigating our current environment, restoring our company requires tough decisions and we will have to make structural changes to ensure we can stay competitive and deliver for our customers over the long term.

We need to be clear-eyed about the work we face and realistic about the time it will take to achieve key milestones on the path to recovery. We also need to focus our resources on performing and innovating in the areas that are core to who we are, rather than spreading ourselves across too many efforts that can often result in underperformance and underinvestment.

With that in mind, today I am sharing some difficult decisions and several program updates: 

On the 777X program, the challenges we have faced in development, as well as from the flight test pause and ongoing work stoppage, will delay our program timeline. We have notified customers that we now expect first delivery in 2026.

We plan to build and deliver the remaining 767 Freighters ordered by our customers and then conclude production of the commercial program in 2027. Production for the KC-46A Tanker will continue.

In BDS, our performance on fixed-price development programs is simply not where it needs to be. We expect substantial new losses in BDS this quarter, driven by the work stoppage on commercial derivatives, continued program challenges and our decision to complete production on the 767 freighter. I will be providing additional oversight of this business and these programs.

Along with the above actions, we must also reset our workforce levels to align with our financial reality and to a more focused set of priorities. Over the coming months, we are planning to reduce the size of our total workforce by roughly 10 percent. These reductions will include executives, managers and employees. Next week, your leadership team will share more tailored information about what this means for your organization. Based on this decision, we will not proceed with the next cycle of furloughs. 

As we move through this process, we will maintain our steadfast focus on safety, quality and delivering for our customers.  We know these decisions will cause difficulty for you, your families and our team, and I sincerely wish we could avoid taking them. However, the state of our business and our future recovery require tough actions.

We will be transparent with you regarding the timing and impact of these steps, and we will be professional and supportive to everyone along the way. 

Thank you for all that you are doing through this very challenging time at Boeing. We will navigate through this moment. We will re-focus our company, and we will restore trust with all those who depend on us.

Kelly

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Fly the Whale to begin scheduled flights between Block Island and Westerly, Rhode Island

Fly The Whale, a US Part 135 Scheduled Air Carrier based in New Haven, is pleased to offer Block Islanders four daily weekday flight options this winter with conveniently timed flights between Block Island (BID) and Westerly, Rhode Island (WST). This route will be the FTW’s first scheduled service offered in the Northeast. FTW currently has scheduled service in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with private charters available in the Northeast region, seasonally in Florida and The Bahamas.

Flights between Block Island and Westerly will begin November 4, 2024, offering four daily round trips Monday through Friday. FTW offers exceptional frequent travel commuter pass programs including WhalePass for individuals and WhalePak for businesses and families. Additionally, FTW will also offer counter-to-counter freight transport services.

Westerly to Block Island Flights (Monday through Friday)

Departure	7:00 AM	Arrival	7:20 AM
Departure	8:00 AM	Arrival	8:20 AM
Departure	4:00 PM	Arrival	4:20 PM
Departure	5:00 PM	Arrival	5:20 PM

Block Island to Westerly Flights (Monday through Friday)

Departure	7:30 AM	Arrival	7:50 AM
Departure	9:30 AM	Arrival	9:50 AM
Departure	4:30 PM	Arrival	4:50 PM
Departure	5:30 PM	Arrival	5:50 PM

America's secret space plane X-37B begins novel space manoeuvres

.The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-7) will begin executing a series of novel manoeuvres, called aerobraking, to change its orbit around Earth and safely dispose of its service module components in accordance with recognized standards for space debris mitigation. Since December 28, 2023, the United States Space Force, supported by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, has conducted radiation effect experiments and has been testing Space Domain Awareness technologies in a Highly Elliptical Orbit.

The use of the aerobraking manoeuvre- a series of passes using the drag of Earth's atmosphere- enables the spacecraft to change orbits while expending minimal fuel. Once the aerobrake manoeuvre is complete, the X-37B will resume its test and experimentation objectives until they are accomplished, at which time the vehicle will de-orbit and execute a safe return as it has during its six previous missions.

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall stated, "This novel and efficient series of manoeuvres demonstrates the Space Force's commitment to achieving groundbreaking innovation as it conducts national security missions in space."

Passenger lands plane.....

Passenger lands plane.....

Flightradar24 has reported that last Friday, a passenger on a  Beech King Air had to take control of the aircraft after the pilot became incapacitated.  The passenger, it has been said did not have any piloting experience, but managed to turn the plane around and land safely at Bakersfield. The light aircraft came to rest slightly off the end of the runway and sadly, according to the FAA, the pilot did not survive.

View the playback of the flight on Flightradar24 

The full statement from the "FAA The passenger of a twin-engine Beechcraft King Air 90 landed at Meadows Field Airport in California around 1:40 p.m. local time on Friday, Oct. 4, after the pilot had a medical emergency. Two people were on board. The aircraft departed Henderson Executive Airport in Las Vegas and was headed to Monterey Regional Airport in California. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide all updates." 

 

Etihad Airways celebrates relaunch of its Cadet Pilot Programme 2025

Etihad Airways has unveiled the relaunch of its renowned Cadet Pilot Programme 2025 which is open for ambitious UAE nationals looking to embark on a career in the exciting aviation industry. The programme, which opens to new candidates today, cements Etihad’s commitment to attracting and nurturing Emirati employees, while creating a pipeline of talent to empower the UAE’s aviation industry into the future.

On Monday, Etihad celebrated the graduation of 70 cadet pilots who have already successfully completed Etihad’s pioneering cadet pilot programme.

At the event, Etihad also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport to collaborate on Abu Dhabi’s strategic approach to building a talent pipeline for the aviation sector.

His Excellency Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, in his roles as Chairman of both Etihad Airways and the Department of Municipalities and Transport, said: “Each of the pilots who have graduated through Etihad’s Cadet Pilot programme has a personal story of hard work, dedication and passion for flying; yet they also form part of a much larger vision. They play an invaluable role in helping to realise the dream of our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. His dream was to connect Abu Dhabi with the world and to bring the world to us. As Etihad pilots and Emiratis, they are at the forefront of realising this dream, and play a key role in the evolving success story of Abu Dhabi.”

The strategic partnership signed at the ceremony by His Excellency Abdullah Al Marzouqi, Director General of the Integrated Transport Centre and Etihad’s Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer Dr Nadia Bastaki, aims to develop national talent and improve customer engagement by fostering collaboration and exchanging information. It highlights the commitment of both entities to support Abu Dhabi's position as a leading hub for aviation excellence.

Alaska Airlines Seattle Kraken aircraft

As the official airline sponsor of the Seattle Kraken, Alaska Airlines unveiled another Kraken-themed aircraft to pump up fans for the NHL season. This second design features the team logo, coordinates of Climate Pledge Arena, and its registration N933AK honoring Seattle’s 93.3 KJR FM, the home of the Kraken.  The Boeing 737 MAX jet will operate across the entire Alaska Airlines route network.

“We are incredibly grateful to our partner, Alaska Airlines, for their continued support of both our team and our fans. Unveiling this new design is the perfect way to celebrate the start of our fourth season.”

Jeff Webster

Chief Commercial Officer of the Seattle Kraken

“As the official airline of the Seattle Kraken, we’re thrilled to reveal a new design to celebrate our hometown’s NHL team. Whether at 30,000 feet or on the ice, we’ll be cheering the Kraken on this season!”

Eric Edge

Managing Director of Marketing and Advertising, Alaska Airlines

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Balkan Holidays will return to London Southend Airport for the Summer 2025 season with a charter to Bourgas

Balkan Holidays will return to London Southend Airport for the Summer 2025 season with charter service to Bourgas

The charter service to Bourgas enjoyed its first season this year and will return again next summer. The flights will run every Monday for 12 weeks, starting on 23 June until 1 September 2025. 

Fans of the Bulgarian resort will again be able to sample some of the best beaches and nightlife on the Black Sea, as well as the delights of Nessebar Old Town – a UNESCO site. The resort achieved the number 2 spot in Europe for the best value for money out of 40 worldwide destinations in the 2024 Post Office Holiday Money survey. The report looks at the costs for a basket of holiday items, including a three-course meal, suncream and a beer.

Holidays are available to book on the Balkan Holidays website or alternatively pop-in to your local travel agent. The tour operator is currently offering savings of up to £675 in its Summer 2025 sale, which runs until 30 September.

Nigel Mayes, Business Development Director of London Southend Airport, said: “We are thrilled to see that Balkan Holidays will return to the airport for next year’s peak summer programme. Clearly, travellers from Essex, the east of London and the southeast have enjoyed what Bourgas has to offer this year. Summer 2025 is gearing up to be our busiest since 2019 and we look forward to welcoming sun-seekers off again to Bulgaria next year.”

Chris Rand, Marketing Manager at Balkan Holidays said:  "We are delighted to be operating our charter flights to Bourgas from London Southend again for Summer 2025. Our holidays to Bulgaria provide wonderful weather, sandy beaches and exceptional value for money and they proved very popular this summer, so we look forward to another successful season next year."

The return of the Bourgas service next summer will further enhance the holiday offer from London Southend, joining new routes like Tenerife, Las Palmas, Antalya, Dalaman, Pisa, Marrakech, Enfidha in Tunisia, and the more recently announced Almeria, Reus and Malta – all of which are being flown by easyJet and easyJet holidays.

London Southend has a number of job vacancies at the moment, they are currently recruiting for an Air Traffic Control Officer, Air Traffic Control Assistant and a Trainee Firefighter. For more details, see the careers pages. 

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Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Stopover programme achieves exceptional growth

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) are celebrating the exceptional growth of their Abu Dhabi Stopover programme. The relaunch of the initiative has exceeded expectations, significantly boosting Abu Dhabi's tourism sector.

The Abu Dhabi Stopover programme, exclusive to Etihad Airways, has seen remarkable growth since its inception. The programme welcomed 24,000 international visitors in the first half of 2024, compared to 7,000 in the latter half of 2023 - an extraordinary increase of 242%. This strong performance, coupled with growing demand and increased bookings for the second half of the year, puts the initiative on track to achieve its ambitious target of 75,000 international stopover visitors in 2024.

Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said: "The growth of our Abu Dhabi Stopover programme has far exceeded our projections. We've seen international visitors more than triple in just six months. This success not only showcases Abu Dhabi's appeal as a destination but also demonstrates the programme's effectiveness in encouraging travellers to experience the emirate's wonders."

Travellers are embracing the opportunity to discover Abu Dhabi, with an average stay of two nights. The programme has particularly resonated with travellers from key markets including England, USA, Australia, EU countries, and India.