Flybe has signed a five-year agreement with London City Airport that will see the introduction of a new direct service from Dublin Airport. One-way fares including taxes and charges start from €60. Other new routes include Belfast City to London City. 
From Monday 27th October 2014, Flybe will offer four times daily services between the two city airports, which includes business-friendly flights arriving in London before 09.00.
Flybe expects the new London City route will appeal to business and leisure passengers in the Republic of Ireland and those travelling to and from the City of London and Canary Wharf whose travel plans are time-critical and who will appreciate the reduced transfer times compared to flying either to/ from Heathrow, Gatwick or Luton.
London City airport is located in the heart of the financial capital with connections offered every 10 minutes by Docklands Light Railway, meaning that passengers can be in Canary Wharf in 12 minutes – and, via the London Underground, in Westminster in just 24 minutes.
Flybe is also aiming to be Europe’s most punctual airline. It recently launched a new world-first 60:60 guarantee that promises its customers if a flight arrives more than 60 minutes late at its destination due to a delay within Flybe’s control, they will qualify for a £60 voucher towards their next flight as long as they book within 60 days.
Saad Hammad, Flybe’s Chief Executive, said: “Today’s news is a significant landmark in the re-birth of Flybe. The decision to re-enter the London market at its most convenient airport follows a rigorous profitability analysis utilising our strict ‘Route Assessment Model’.
“Flybe is today already connecting over seven million passengers a year throughout the UK and Europe. With this new major London connection from Dublin, we are not only cementing our position as Europe’s largest regional airline but also upholding our customer promise to be ‘The Fastest Way from A to Flybe’.”
Vincent Harrison, Dublin Airport Managing Director, said: “We very much welcome this announcement by Flybe who have been successfully growing their business out of Dublin Airport for the past 12 years. Their new Dublin-London City service gives passengers great choice and flexibility when travelling this route.
“Dublin-London is the biggest international city pairing in Europe and the fifth biggest in the world. Almost four million passengers travelled between Dublin and London in 2013, an increase of 6% on the previous year. We wish Flybe every success with this new service and we look forward to working closely with them to promote it.”
Today’s new route brings the total number of direct destinations offered by Flybe from Dublin to four, the others being Exeter, Southampton and Donegal. Further new routes and increased schedules to Flybe destinations will be announced in the coming weeks.
As well as these new flights to Dublin, Flybe also announced services from London City to Belfast City, Edinburgh, Exeter and Inverness.
