I saw this article in the Cambridge News and thought it was interesting … and definitely not surprising having once gone on a tour of the airport arranged specifically for councillors.
The news is that the revolution in Cambridge air travel is continuing at a dizzying pace. Local travellers will now be able to board flights to travel to Kruger in South Africa, Abu Dhabi and Phuket in Thailand, as well as Australia – all from the city’s airport. Other destinations available from Cambridge International Airport include the Indian Ocean, Asia, Africa and the Far East.
The tickets are now available after a deal was struck between Marshall and Swiss-based Darwin Airline and Etihad Airways.
A quick check on the Darwin Airline website shows that it has announced the opening of the new routes from Cambridge to Paris (Charles-de-Gaulle), Amsterdam, Geneva and Milan (Malpensa), all at a fare of 189 Euros or about £159 for return flights. The flights are going to be operated from September 2nd 2013 .
For those travelling further afield, Etihad will then take them the rest of the way. Current fares to Abu Dhabi booked with Flight Centre start from £554 return, heading further afield you can fly from Cambridge to Phuket from £642 return or Johannesburg from £780 return.
David Surley, head of business and route development of Cambridge International Airport, was buoyant. He said: “This agreement gives Cambridge a new and truly worldwide reach. “It is excellent news for passengers and businesses across the East of England.”
Cambridge to Abu Dhabi will take about eight hours and Cambridge to the Maldives will take approximately 14-and-a-half hours, which Christian Schneider, CCO at Darwin Airline, described as “very competitive.”
Mr Schneider added: “It is really something very special for the long-haul traveller. You can fly out via Amsterdam, back via Paris, or whichever connection works best.”
Special offer packages with Flight Centre are also available, with a three-night stay in Abu Dhabi and flights from Cambridge Airport starting from £669 per person, whilst a seven-night Kruger safari-and-stay package in South Africa is priced at £859 per person.
Fifty Darwin flights will take to the air every week from September – 24 to and from Amsterdam, 12 to and from Paris, eight to and from Milan, and six to and from Geneva.
The airport points out that passengers will be able to book flights from Cambridge to destinations worldwide through major tour operators and travel agents.
Whatever next? Good luck to Marshall on this new venture.
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