Cheapflights says flying from regional airports can be cheaper
Flying from regional UK airports to certain destinations is cheaper than flying from London, according to research by Cheapflights.
Its analysis of 20 million searches on more than 200 different routes revealed fares to some popular long-haul routes are actually cheaper, on average, from regional airports than from airports in the capital.
According to Cheapflights’ data, flights to Las Vegas are, on average, £209 cheaper (£675 return), from Belfast and £151 lower, (£733 return), from Manchester than from London.
Hong Kong is cheapest to reach from Birmingham, where average return fares (£534 return), are £74 lower than London’s average fare.
Meanwhile, flights to Kuala Lumpur are an average £100 lower from Edinburgh (£525 return) than from London.
Managing director Andrew Shelton said even on many short haul routes, when you factor in the cost of getting to and from the airport or paying for an overnight hotel, it can still often work out cheaper to fly from a local regional airport.
"It’s logical to assume that holidaymakers will get the best bang for their buck flying from London, where capacity and choice are greatest," he said.
"However, our fare crunching shows that flying from a local airport will often only cost a few pounds extra, which will be more than offset when you factor in the cost of travel to reach London and potentially even a pre-flight hotel stay."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent