The first flights from Aberdeen to Poland for months soared off yesterday, as the struggling airline industry begins to recover from the “hugely damaging” impact of lockdown.
But now, a number of domestic and international routes are to relaunch from the city airport – including flights to Gdansk in Poland, and Alicante and Malaga in Spain.
Wizz Air’s Gdansk service restarted yesterday, with Ryanair’s services to Alicante and Malaga taking off today and Saturday respectively.
British Airways has increased its Heathrow service to twice daily and Loganair has also confirmed it will resume flights to Belfast on Monday.
Derek Provan, chief executive of AGS Airports, which owns and operates Aberdeen International Airport, has again urged the Scottish Government to make a decision on “air bridges”.
Also known as “travel corridors”, they allow holidaymakers to fly to certain countries without having to quarantine for 14 days when they come back and could help turn around flagging fortunes.
Mr Provan said: “The introduction of air bridges will allow us to strike the important balance of protecting public health while getting the country and our economy moving again.
“Unlike the blanket quarantine policy which has been hugely damaging to our aviation, tourism and hospitality industries, air bridges will allow travel between low-risk countries and protect the public from high-risk arrivals.”
Passengers travelling through Aberdeen International Airport in the coming weeks must come prepared with their own facial coverings, while all staff will be provided with personal protective equipment including face masks.
Protective screens have been installed in key areas, including the check-in and security halls, and passengers will be asked to observe physical distancing wherever possible.
The airport has also enhanced its cleaning regimes with a specific focus on the regular disinfecting of all hard surfaces.