Tiny airline launches new £50 flight route to British island that looks like the Caribbean – just 85 minutes from London
AN airline is launching a brand-new route from a major UK airport to a British Isle that’s often likened to the Caribbean.
Aurigny, the flag carrier for Bailiwick of Guernsey, will operate twice daily flights from London to Guernsey.
There are five small islands that form the Guernsey Islands, including Guernsey, Sark, Herm, Alderney, and Lihou, with both Guernsey and Alderney having their very own airports.
Guernsey Airport, which is the larger of the two, already has several routes operated by Aurigny.
From the end of next month, the airline will operate two daily flights between London City Airport and Guernsey, with one-way fares starting from £49.99 per person.
There will be one flight in the morning and another in the evening, with three flights operating every Friday.
Morning flights will depart from London City Airport at 9am, landing in Guernsey at 10.25am.
While evening flights will leave the central London airport at 7.20pm, arriving on the tiny isle at 8.45pm.
The route will take to the skies on March 31, 2024, with tickets already on sale.
Sun Online Travel have found flights operating from London City Airport to Guernsey for £59.99, for a one-way ticket, during the Easter Holidays.
Aurigny airlines already operate a route between London Gatwick and Guernsey, with as many as six flights operating between the two airports on any given day.
Plenty of other UK airports also have direct flights to Guernsey, including Manchester, Exeter, Leeds Bradford, Southampton, Birmingham, Bristol.
A direct route also operates between Dublin and Guernsey.
Meanwhile, Alderney Airport has direct flights to neighbouring Guernsey and Southampton.
Andrew Hodges, Chief Commercial Officer, London City Airport, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Aurigny as the first new airline at London City Airport this year – demonstrating our commitment to growing as a business and offering new destinations to our passengers.”
Nico Bezuidenhout, CEO at Aurigny, said: “Guernsey is a tourist destination and an International Finance Centre. Many businesses on our beautiful island work closely with colleagues and clients in London and direct flights to London’s beating heart will also benefit anyone who wishes to explore the city’s many attractions.”
Exotic landscapes
Despite being only nine miles long and three miles wide, there’s plenty to keep Brit holidaymakers entertained on Guernsey.
Often likened to the Caribbean by both travel experts and tourists alike, the Channel island has golden beaches, crystal-clear waters and exotic landscapes.
Popular activities on the islands include surfing, dolphin-spotting, and island hopping to some of the smaller Channel Islands.
There are believed to be 27 beaches on the island, including Le Grand Harve, Shell Beach, Ladies Beach, and Petit Bot Bay.
Out on the water, tourists can learn how to scuba dive, surf, go on boat trips for a spot of wildlife-watching and explore the island on a yacht.
There are plenty of walking and cycling routes through the countryside too.
Other activities include visiting Castle Cornet, an 800-year-old castle, sampling some Guernsey ice cream at one of the beach cafes, and exploring the island’s history at the Little Chapel.
Other new routes
Aurigny isn’t the only airline launching a new route this year.
Earlier this year, Jet2 confirmed that a new route will operate between Manchester Airport and Porto.
Meanwhile, British Airways will be resuming flights from London Stansted for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.
The flag carrier has confirmed three new routes will depart from the London airport, with prices starting at £36 for a one-way ticket.
Budget airline Ryanair is launching flights to Spain, Portugal, and Malta, from Norwich Airport.
As it stands, the airport only serves a handful of foreign destinations, which means the Ryanair expansion is great news for holidaymakers in East Anglia.
The flights will run on both Mondays and Fridays, according to the aviation website Simple Flying.
Ryanair is also launching flights from Cornwall Airport and Cardiff Airport, with new routes to Paris and Faro among some of those announced.
Hand luggage rules for UK airlines
We’ve rounded up how much hand luggage you can take on UK airlines when booking their most basic fare.
Ryanair
One personal bag measuring no more than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm
EasyJet
One personal bag measuring no larger than 45cm x 36cm x 20cm
Jet2
One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm weighing up to 10kg
TUI
One personal item that its underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm weighing up to 10kg
British Airways
One personal bag no larger than 40cm x 30cm x 15cm and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm 25cm weighing up to 23kg
Virgin Atlantic
One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 36cm x 23cm weighing up to 10kg