South West regional airline Air Southwest has launched the sale of Visitor Oyster cards on all its flights into London, giving customers quick and easy access to the capital’s public transport network.

Air Southwest is the first airline at London City Airport to offer the cards, and is also launching Oyster cards on its four times daily Gatwick Airport service from Plymouth and Newquay.

Following a deal with Transport for London, customers can buy a Visitor Oyster card for just £22, which includes £20 of travel credit.

Oyster is an electronic transport smartcard which enables passengers to pay for journeys on the Tube, Docklands Light Railway, London Buses, Tramlink, London Overground, Thames Clippers river services and on all National Rail services in Greater London.

Mike Coombes, commercial director at Air Southwest, said: “This is all about giving Air Southwest customers from Plymouth and Newquay hassle-free travel in London, whether they are flying to London City Airport or Gatwick, without having to buy tickets.”

Customers arriving at London City Airport can board the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) which puts them within minutes of the City or Canary Wharf.

Thanks to the DLR, more passengers leave London City Airport by public transport than any other airport in the country, and Air Southwest’s Oyster initiative has been applauded for improving access to the transport network.

Giles Bailey, Head of Group Marketing Strategy and Integration for Transport for London, said: “This is our first partnership into London City and we’re delighted to be working with Air Southwest on promoting the Visitor Oyster card as a quick and easy way of accessing London’s public transport network.”

Richard Gooding, Chief Executive of London City Airport said: “This is a great partnership that we hope to see repeated on other scheduled services into London City. The airport is committed to giving passengers the smoothest journey possible and this will add to that.”

The snow is affecting operations at several UK airports. Currently, the following airports have suspended flights:

• Blackpool – the BBC has just reported that the airport has closed
• Bristol – closed until 12:00
• Cardiff – closed until 1000
• Exeter
• Gatwick
• Plymouth
• Robin Hood

Air Southwest has announced an adjustment to the departure times for its morning flight to London City airport from Newquay and Plymouth airports.

The earlier departure time for the service, which starts on 20 April, is designed to give business passengers a longer working day in the city.

For more London City Airport information and to book London City airport parking and London City airport hotels click on the links.

Air Southwest has appointed the Channel Islands based company Aurigny to handle passenger check-in and baggage handling at Guernsey Airport ahead of the start of their new service to Plymouth City Airport next month.

The new flights, which will cost from £39 one-way including all taxes, will operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 8 April.

Mike Coombes, deputy chief executive at Air Southwest, said: “The strength of the Euro is inevitably encouraging more people from the UK to consider taking holidays closer to home this year and our new flights will enable visitors from the South West to enjoy an island paradise without high eurozone prices and a long flight. The new service will also bring the delights of Devon and Cornwall within easy reach of travellers from Guernsey.

“I’m pleased that we have signed a contract with Aurigny as our handling agent and am sure that they will provide a very warm welcome and great service to our customers.”

Low-fare regional airline, Air Southwest is launching a new service from Plymouth airport to Guernsey.

The flights will start on 8 April and operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Mike Coombes, deputy chief executive at Air Southwest, said: “Guernsey is the perfect destination for a short-break or family holiday and for those wanting to experience an island paradise without high Euro-zone exchange rates, there’s never been a better time to travel.

“This new service increases the number of destinations on offer from Plymouth City Airport to 11 and we hope that it will make a significant contribution to the island’s economy.

Air Southwest customers flying with just hand baggage from Newquay and Plymouth can now take advantage of a new express service, allowing them to check-in just 20 minutes before their scheduled flight departure time.

As the main airline operating from the two airports, Air Southwest has already developed a range of services to help South West travellers, including free hold-baggage allowance, a hand baggage allowance of up to 7kg plus a laptop, and a “Business Plus” product tailored to meet the needs of business travellers.

Air Southwest operates year round flights from Newquay Cornwall Airport and Plymouth City Airport to Bristol airport, London Gatwick, Leeds Bradford airport, Manchester airport, Glasgow airport, Newcastle airport, Cork and Dublin. The airline also has regular flights from Plymouth to Jersey.

Last December, Air Southwest launched new flights from Newquay and Plymouth to French skiing destination Grenoble which run until the end of March.

Air Southwest has teamed up with Newquay Cornwall Airport to offer free airport parking for passengers until the end of January.

The New Year offer is open to any Air Southwest customer already booked or planning to book a flight from Newquay during January, and applies from January 6 to 31.

Air Southwest offers eight year-round destinations from Newquay including four flights a day, seven days a week to London Gatwick with fares starting from just £29 inclusive, with no hidden taxes or charges for baggage or check-in. To book meet and greet Gatwick parking online click on the link.

Air Southwest has celebrated its first ever ski flights to Grenoble which took off from Plymouth and Newquay at the weekend.

The new weekly services to the winter ski destination in the French Alps run on Saturdays from 20 December 2008 to 28 March 2009.

Air Southwest deputy chief executive Mike Coombes said: “Grenoble is a great winter ski destination and an excellent choice for both new and experienced skiers. Air Southwest is delighted that it can offer ski breaks for people from across the region right on their doorstep, without having to take a long road journey to fly from a distant airport. Our new flights direct from Plymouth and Newquay have been extremely well received and this new service further demonstrates Air Southwest’s commitment to Devon and Cornwall.”

AirSouthwest has underlined its commitment to the South West of England’s air links with the early launch of its summer 2009 flight schedules.

The airline, which flies from Plymouth, Newquay and Bristol airports, is encouraging travellers to and from the South West to book early in order to secure its lowest prices.

Air Southwest deputy chief executive Mike Coombes commented: “In the current economic climate, it is more important than ever that we offer our customers low fares, with no hidden extras. Our pricing policy is very simple – the earlier you book, the lower the fare.  So by making our summer 2009 flights bookable now, we are giving our customers plenty of time to grab a bargain flight.”

The airline is also claiming that the launch of its summer 2009 schedules is good news for tourism in the region.

Mr Coombes added:  “With people all over the UK feeling the pinch in their wallets, I firmly believe that places like Devon and Cornwall, the destinations of childhood memories, will be a popular choice for summer 2009, as people shun expensive foreign breaks.”

Air Southwest flies year-round from Newquay Cornwall Airport to London Gatwick, Manchester, Leeds-Bradford Airport, Glasgow Airport, Newcastle, Bristol, Cork and Dublin.

At Plymouth City Airport, the airline offers year-round flights to London Gatwick, Manchester Airport, Leeds-Bradford, Glasgow, Newcastle Airport, Bristol, Cork, Dublin and Jersey.

From Bristol, Air Southwest serves Manchester, Leeds Bradford, Newquay and Plymouth.

Plymouth City Airport has been ranked as the second fastest growing airport in the country after official figures revealed a 31% increase in passenger numbers.

The impressive growth has been attributed to the introduction of new flights earlier this year to Glasgow airport, Newcastle airport, Dublin and Cork by Plymouth-based law fare regional airline Air Southwest.

Civil Aviation Authority figures just released for June show a 31% increase in the number of passengers using the airport, compared to the same period last year. This compares with a national average drop in passenger numbers of 1%.

Mike Coombes, deputy chief executive of Air Southwest, said: “There’s been a lot of doom and gloom around about air travel recently so it’s good to be able to report that Plymouth is bucking the trend.

“All our new routes have been very well received. Glasgow is proving especially popular for business travellers, particularly with marine-related businesses, and for short breaks in Scotland.

“Newcastle has also seen a lot of marine and Naval-related traffic, and we’re seeing a lot of customers take advantage of the city’s legendary nightlife and its proximity to the Northumberland coast and national park.

“Our Cork and Dublin routes, which were historically operated by another carrier, have also proved popular following their reintroduction and 40% of these customers are inbound visitors attracted by golf, fishing, sailing and the region’s fine food, which is a welcome boost to the local economy.

Plymouth City Airport now serves 10 destinations. As well as the new routes introduced this year, Air Southwest flies to London Gatwick four times a day, seven days a week, and has regular services to Manchester airport, Leeds Bradford airport, Jersey and Bristol airport.

And from December 20 Air Southwest will run a new weekly service from Plymouth to the French ski resort of Grenoble.