The second biggest international airport in London, Gatwick, has announced that Iceland’s national airline will expand its network with them in October.
Icelandair will fly twice weekly to Keflavik International Airport from Gatwick. The destination airport is 50km from Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik.
Beginning on October 18, the flights will allow passengers to take a winter weekend city break in Iceland, where they can experience the Northern Lights – a spectacular natural light show.
Visitors can also use the country’s airports to take connecting flights to the USA and Canada on multi-destination trips.
From Iceland, holidaymakers can get airport transfers and fly to destinations including Boston, Denver, New York and Seattle.
Those flying with Icelandair from Gatwick can travel on Thursdays and Sundays on Boeing 757-200 aircrafts, carrying up to 189 passengers in three cabin classes.
Gatwick Airport’s chief commercial officer, Guy Stephenson, said: “We are very excited to be welcoming Icelandair to Gatwick and to be given the opportunity to support them and their plans for growth in London.
“For passengers living in London and the South East, this move will give them greater choices over how to reach this wonderful country and join connecting flights to key cities across North America.”
Travellers heading to Mumbai will once again be able to travel on Virgin Atlantic after the airline announced it was restarting its service to the Indian city.
Sir Richard Branson’s carrier will begin flights from Heathrow Airport to Mumbai from October 28, three years after suspending its service due to falling interest and ever increasing competition from rival airlines.
However, demand has flourished in the intervening years to make the destination Heathrow’s 12th busiest route, seeing as many as one million people head to the commercial and entertainment centre every year. Air India and British Airways already serve the Heathrow to Mumbai route.
The Airbus A330 aircraft will fly daily along the route for Virgin, and the new move is expected to create around 100 jobs both in India and the UK.
“We are proud to be flying to Mumbai again, linking this wonderful city to our key destinations of London, New York, Boston, Washington and Chicago,” said Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway.
“India’s phenomenal growth continues to drive travel to the UK and the USA and we know our passengers are going to love the connections the new flight offers.”
Those flying on the aircraft will be able to enjoy Panasonic’s latest in-flight entertainment system, which includes easy-to-use touchscreen technology and over 300 hours of content.
Copyright © Press Association 2012
