Press Release
AeroSvit-Ukranian Airlines touches down at Gatwick
2 March 2011
AeroSvit-Ukranian Airlines touches down at Gatwick
2 March 2011
- AeroSvit-Ukranian Airlines, enters UK market choosing Gatwick as its London base for its new route to Kiev
- Gatwick’s competing and winning new airlines, creating more choice for passengers
Gatwick Airport has welcomed, AeroSvit-Ukranian Airline, the latest airline carrier to choose to operate services from Europe’s busiest point-to-point airport.
AeroSvit-Ukranian Airlines is the largest Ukranian network carrier serving 1.7 million passengers a year. Services will operate from the beginning of March 2011 offering a five-day weekly service to Kiev and will cater for both the leisure and business traveller which fits with Gatwick’s profile as the premier leisure airport with aspirations to grow and compete for business traffic.
Stewart Wingate, Gatwick Airport’s Chief Executive said: “We are delighted to welcome the new airline carrier, AeroSvit-Ukranian Airlines, to Gatwick which will provide the opportunity for around 65,000 passengers to fly direct to this destination.
“Our ambition is to become London’s airport of choice for airlines and passengers and we continue discussions with a number of carriers from around the world who recognise that Gatwick is a strong airport partner. We are already serving more than 200 destinations - more than any other UK airport - in 90 countries for around 33 million passengers a year on short- and long-haul point-to-point services.
“We have acquired a total of 18 new routes since new ownership - we are competing to grow and this latest news highlights the progress we’re making.”
AeroSvit-Ukrainian Airlines, acting Director General, Alexander Avdieiev said: “Gatwick Airport’s excellent links into London and the South East and its progressive investment programme has given us the ideal opportunity to expand our network and introduce routes to the London market. Our direct flight to Kiev will give passengers the choice to not only travel to the capital but to other regions of the Ukraine such as, Frankovsk, Lugansk and Odessa.”
This is the second European airline in recent months to choose Gatwick as its London base; airberlin recently announced its new routes to Hamberg and Nuremberg, primarily because of the direct and fast public transport links into the heart of the Capital.
The carrier’s decision to operate the route out of Gatwick sends a strong signal to the airport market that Gatwick is changing and becoming a more attractive place for airlines to operate services from, and for passengers to fly from.
