Two new air routes announced from JLA

Aug 9 2007

BUDGET airline easyJet is to launch two new routes from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, it revealed this morning.

It will begin a four-times a week service to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, on November 2 and three-times a week flights in Innsbruck in Austria on January 8.

The airline hopes the Lisbon route will be popular with people going on city breaks as well as business travellers, while the addition of Innsbruck is aimed at the ski market.

The double announcement comes just days after Air Malta and Flybe announced they were stopping services at JLA, while both easyJet and Ryanair said they would be reducing activity on some routes, with several being axed altogether.

David Osborne, easyJet UK General Manager, said “easyJet is delighted to be launching these two new routes to Innsbruck and Lisbon from Liverpool.

“The new Innsbruck service is great news for those wanting to ski in Austria this winter, whilst the Lisbon route will not only be popular for city breaks but will also provide a direct link for businesses between the two cities.”

Neil Pakey, Managing Director of Liverpool John Lennon Airport commented:

“In Lisbon and Innsbruck, easyJet have delivered two new destinations that will no doubt appeal to both the business and leisure communities.

“Lisbon in particular means yet another key European capital city will have direct access to the region ahead of the City's Capital of Culture year in 2008."

Mark Basnett, Director of Operations at The Mersey Partnership (TMP), said: “International air connections are a vital ingredient of attracting new inward investment.

“Lisbon is a key European capital city and creating this direct and cost effective link will undoubtedly open up some great new investment opportunities for the Liverpool City Region.

“We also know both Liverpool and Lisbon are historically important Port cities with significant service sectors, providing great scope to exploit these similarities and step up our competitive edge.”