Edinburgh Airport to begin flights to Oxford

By ALISTAIR DALTON
Published on 25/01/2013 15:43

FLIGHTS between Edinburgh and Oxford are to be launched in March by Greek airline Minoan Air.

The move comes two years after Varsity Express started flights using an 18-seat aircraft on the route but collapsed after flying for only one week.

Minoan Air, which started flights in Greece last year, operates 50-seat Fokker 50 turboprop aircraft and also runs charter flights across Europe.

The Edinburgh flights, aimed at business class passengers, will run twice daily on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 March and six days a week from 10 May.

Minoan Air, which will be Oxford airport’s first commercial airline since it opened 80 years ago, will also operate flights to Dublin.

Airport managing director Andi Pargeter said of the Edinburgh route: “The two cities have a lot of synergy, but rail journeys between Oxford and Edinburgh can typically take six hours or more, and with rail fares between the two cities averaging more than £200, the direct flights will definitely appeal to business passengers who have previously had to factor an overnight stay into their visits.”

Marcos Caramalengos, chief commercial officer of Minoan Air, said: “We are already considering the possibility of introducing further routes from Oxford.”