Birmingham with a lot ‘Toulouse’ as airline launches new service

SHORT haul services at Birmingham Airport have been further boosted following a decision by its largest airline to launch a new route.

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, will begin daily flights to Toulouse-Blagnac from October 30. It will be the only direct service between the two destinations.

The daily service, which will operate until March 25, will depart from Birmingham at 10.50am and arrive in Toulouse at 13:40 local time. It will depart Toulouse at 14:15 and arrive back in Birmingham at 15:10. Services will also operate on Saturday and Sunday but at different times.

The announcement of the new route coincides with the 30th anniversary of the airline’s Belfast City service.

In the three decades that the service has been in operation, Flybe planes have clocked up some 22 million miles – the equivalent distance of travelling almost 50 times to the Moon and back. In that time, more than six million passengers have been carried on 100,000 flights.

Vincent Hodder, Flybe’s Chief Revenue Officer, said: “Today marks a very special milestone in Flybe’s long established commitment to both Birmingham and Belfast City airports – and at the same time we are announcing yet another new route to regional France.

“Our clear focus is on providing short, affordable regional flights, delivering unrivalled regional connectivity for local communities.”  

Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham Airport, commenting on the Belfast City anniversary, said: “Happy anniversary to Flybe, our largest carrier here at Birmingham Airport.  To operate a reliable and consistent service between Belfast City and Birmingham for the past 30 years is impressive, proving the high demand for this service for both leisure and business travellers.  

“The airport is proud to have Flybe as a major partner and we look forward to continuing to work together to make its other 31 routes from Birmingham have similar longevity, including the Toulouse flights announced today.”