Travellers shun Heathrow
bmi regional is reporting a surge in travellers wanting to fly from regional airports.
The airline says passengers are shunning Heathrow and Gatwick because they are fed up of delays, long journey times getting to the airport and the high cost of additional extras, such as parking.
On Sunday, Heathrow reported delays to 25% of outgoing flights and18% of incoming flights, because of bad weather.
bmi regional CEO Cathal O’Connell said "The chaotic scenes we witnessed at Heathrow over the weekend rarely happen at other airports.
"Heathrow and Gatwick are working at capacity and travelling to and from them is often stressful and time consuming."
Waiting times and security checks are often much shorter at regional airports, while parking is more convenient and cheaper.
Baggage carousel waiting time at Heathrow is 29 minutes 29 seconds, while carousel waiting time at Manchester is half that, according to statistics.
O’Connell added: "Increasingly we’re seeing consumers opt for the regional option, citing less stressful check-in processes, more pleasant journey times to the airport and cheaper parking closer to the airport as some of the main reasons
"Flying from regional airports will really cut down on parking charges – and the parking is much closer to the airport so saves time.
"Bristol is amongst the cheapest in the UK for on-site seven-day parking offering rates from just £29. At Birmingham Airport, you can literally walk to the long term car park in 10 minutes – less time than it takes to get to the short term car park in Heathrow."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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