easyJet Builds at Bristol with Reykjavik and Marrakech Links

UK low-fare carrier easyJet has revealed an expansion of its winter network at Bristol Airport with the introduction of new services to Keflavik International Airport, serving the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik and Marrakech in Morocco before the end of this year. The twice weekly routes will commence from December 12, 2013 and December 14, 2013 and will be operated using 156-seat Airbus A319 equipment.

The link to Reykjavik will offer the only connection to Iceland from the south west UK, while, the Marrakech service will mark the return of regular flights to the popular North African leisure destinations, a route previously flown by Ryanair between October 2008 and October 2011. easyJet expects to carry over 55,000 passengers during the first 12 months of operation.

“We are pleased to announce two new routes for Bristol Airport today offering exciting new holiday destinations for people across the South West,” said Ali Gayward, commercial manager, easyJet. “Reykjavik is fast becoming one of the most popular destinations for UK holidaymakers who are attracted to the fantastic scenery and natural beauty as well as the thriving bar and restaurant scene. Marrakech boasts luxury hotels, rich history and culture and excellent shopping opportunities with a flight time of just over four hours.”

According to UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data, 445,689 passengers a year flew between the UK and Iceland in 2012, up 14.8 per cent on the previous year. This traffic was dominated by passengers flying from London’s airports, from where passengers in the south west have previously had to travel via to get to the destination. In the last year that Ryanair served the Bristol – Marrakech route (2011), a total of 27,068 passengers flew between the destinations.

“This announcement adds two more exciting destinations to easyJet’s extensive route network from Bristol, which is the largest available at any UK airport outside London. It also brings two new countries within easy reach from Bristol Airport, taking the total number of nations served by direct flights to 32,” said Robert Sinclair, chief executive officer, Bristol Airport.

The UK carrier is currently the largest airline operating from Bristol Airport with up to eleven aircraft permanently based at the site, flying over three million passengers to and from the airport annually. In the table below we highlight air capacity from Bristol this month using data from OAG Analyser. The analysis shows that easyJet has a 49.3 per cent share of the available capacity from Bristol this month, almost double that of its closest rival, Ryanair.