Jet2.com targets ski season with launch of flights to Geneva from Glasgow Airport as France reopens to UK travellers

Snowfall in Scotland from Shetland to the Highlands, and Aberdeenshire to Perthshire made it officially a White Christmas, but skiers and snowboarders looking for guaranteed action on the slopes can now fly direct from Glasgow Airport to Geneva.

Jet2.com has launched a weekly Saturday service to the popular ski destination.

Launched on January 8 and running to April 16, following the popular inaugural flight on Boxing Day from the airport, the route will give access to a multitude of snow sports destinations in the Swiss Alps for Scottish enthusiasts keen to experience heavier levels of snowfall than are customary at home.

Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “With skiers and snowboarders missing out on visiting their favourite ski destinations last winter, we are delighted to be offering this new route to Geneva from Glasgow Airport and seeing our inaugural flight take off.

"This new route is proving extremely popular, as customers in the region make the most of being able to visit the Swiss Alps with Jet2.com, as well as the opportunity to choose from an even greater selection of ski destinations from the base this winter. We look forward to a successful ski season in Geneva from Glasgow Airport, as well as many more to come.”

The launch comes with France having lifted its ban on UK holidaymakers from Friday morning, opening up even greater access to Europe’s most popular ski fields.

Travellers who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to enter France if they have evidence of a negative coronavirus test taken within 24 hours of departure.

The requirement to isolate on arrival will be scrapped.

Jet2.com flights from Glasgow Airport to Geneva will operate weekly until April.

The decision has been warmly welcomed by airline operators such as Jet2, which has announced it will resume ski flights to Lyon, Chambery and Grenoble from January 22.

Jet2 is offering a 10 per cent discount off all ski flights in a bid to woo travellers back following expanded Covid restrictions on travel.

Mr Heapy said: “This is the positive news that skiers and snowboarders have been looking forward to, and the spike in bookings for ski flights has been both sharp and immediate.

"The snow conditions in the French Alps are said to be excellent, meaning our customers are jumping at the chance to get back on the slopes.

"We know how much our customers want to get back to the French Alps and we are very pleased to be flying them there again from next weekend onwards. This is yet more great news for the travel industry and further reinforces our already strong belief that 2022 is a year to look forward to with real confidence.”

Around 17 million British nationals visit France every year.

ABTA, which represents travel firms, said it was one of the most popular destinations for UK holidaymakers.

"Thousands of people head there for ski breaks at this time of year, so this [the lifting of the ban] will be a huge relief for customers with holidays booked there for the next few weeks, who have been waiting anxiously.”

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