steviedeluxe

http://www.02b.com/es/notices/2012/1...rways_4160.php

New airline Hispania Airways will start operating in December from Federico García Lorca airport. Destinations will include Madrid, London and Paris

http://www.whichbudget.com/blog/en/n...ispania-airwas

steviedeluxe

Another article in English here

http://www.02b.com/en/notices/2012/1...rways_3016.php

Cats-R-Us

A neighbour recently checked their website for a flight in March next year. He was quoted around 400 euros return each. It's a shame as Granada airport is closer to us than the others but 800 euros for 2 to visit the UK is a lot of money.

steviedeluxe

Easter's in March next year, which probably explains that quote.
Not that the flights are low-cost, they start at over 100 one way. But I suspect it's aimed more at people who don't want to spend an extra few hours going via Malaga. You pays your money...

Domino

you are obviously too young to remember Never Mind The Quality, Feel The Width.

those fares can be obtained discounted, and think how much people ACTUALLY pay for their special offer, discounted to the bone, trip with Ryanscare.

with all the add-on's and the lack of civility and the 15mile commando course hike to get to the Ryanscare gate at Stansted and the Gestapo they used to have inspecting the recesses of your hand luggage as soon as you arrived at "Their" part of the airport, to be treated as a human being who is paying someone's wages isnt alot more than that experience.

Domino

Stevie, my apologies for seeming to ignore this post whilst taking part in other threads - just I wanted to make sure of the info I had, which proved difficult as I couldnt remember the name of the airline

Yes good news about Hispania, they are a new airline that are hoping to fill the Spanair gaps.
You should also know about VOLOTEA who are also a new startup established by Barcelona-based Alaeo S.L., a company created by former Vueling founders, Carlos Muñoz and Lázaro Ros. It commenced operations on 5 April 2012, from Venice Marco Polo Airport. The name "Volotea" originates from the Spanish verb "revolotear," meaning "to fly around."

The company is backed by three private-equity funds, two of them from Europe (Axis Participaciones Empresariales and Corpfin Capital) and a third one from the United States—CCMP Capital, whose chairman, Greg Brenneman, one-time President and COO of America's Continental Airlines, also chairs Volotea's board. The company raised over €50m before operations began. Their initial operational base will be Venice, using 717's, although being Spanish registered.
I must say that Italy has proved popular for many years with flights to/from Spain and numbers don't seem to be falling. Even Ryanair are still maintaining their flights tween Spain and Italy even thought they seem to be reducing to the UK.

Volotea don't advertise it in their current destinations but have said they will be using Granada on a seasonal basis only.
A few weeks ago I was on the bus into Granada and one of their planes, distinctive checkers tailplane, flew overhead across Atarfe into Federico García Lorca Granada-Jaén Airport (GRX). They only made a couple of flights before the end of the "season" but it was nice to see.

I have alot of time for GRX, it is relatively basic and really needs a cash injection to improve its facilities, but obviously passenger numbers must come to justify that as IMRC it is owned by the Granada Ayuntamiento. It is also very relaxed about things, and also there is an hourly bus service to the centre of the city for a princely €3 (2011 figures), better than the €20 - €25 for a taxi of which there are plenty.

GRX gives good access into the Poniente de Granada where the city is still seeing 2.5million visitors a year. (Oh to be able to take just €1 from each of them)

so...ads over, thanks for the update Stevie, I am working on an AVE update at the moment......

Cats-R-Us

Thank you for that, but I can remember it. I am even old enough to remember seeing the Queen's Coronation on a small black and white TV, fitted with a very large magnifying glass in front which distorted the picture. The TV cabinet was actually very large but the screen area quite small. I was very young at the time though.

Domino

yes, my father like oh so many bought our very first tv for the coronation.
then updated to a set top box to watch ITV

memories...........