Evening departure to EXT leaves LCY at 17.25 from 26 October
Westcountry business leaders have welcomed a decision by airline Flybe to introduce an earlier return departure on its weekday evening flights from London City Airport to Exeter.
From 26 October the evening departure will leave London City at 17.25 instead of 20.05, arriving at Exeter Airport at 18.35. The weekday morning departure from Exeter will leave slightly later at 06.50, rather than 06.40 at present.
The change in times follows feedback from the local business community via Exeter Connects, an Exeter Airport initiative designed to enhance air links from the airport for the benefit of the South West business community.
Over the last year Exeter Connects has established a network of business Ambassadors across the region through which it can gather intelligence and opinions about regional air travel and also promote new routes.
Tim Jones, Chairman of Ambassadors for Exeter Connects, said: “Through the Exeter Connects network we have been able to gather feedback about regional air services and one of the things highlighted was the timing of the London City flights.
“Although very popular with business travellers since their launch last October, many felt that the 20.05 evening departure from London City to Exeter was quite late in the day. We are delighted that Flybe has taken that feedback on board and will move the time to 17.25 from 26th October this year.”
The news has also been welcomed by Steve Henson, Licensed Insolvency Practitioner and Senior Manager at regional chartered accountants Francis Clark, who is based in Exeter: “We use the London City service a lot because it is so much quicker than road or rail, and I think businesses will find this earlier evening departure more user-friendly. It still allows a full day in London but gets people home that much earlier.”
Matt Roach, Managing Director at Exeter Airport, said: “Feedback from the business community via our Exeter Connects network is important because we can relay that directly to the airline operators to help inform their schedules.
“It’s also important to keep local businesses up to date about where they can fly from Exeter Airport, including to major international hubs like Amsterdam and Paris, but also UK destinations such as Newcastle, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast. Exeter Connects helps us do that.”
