News Release (02/12/08)
Airport gears up for festive travellers
The Christmas holiday season starts this week at Bristol International, with the first of 26 flights to Lapland taking off from the airport on Wednesday 3rd December.
Thousands of families will fly off to enjoy seasonal short breaks in the Lapland resorts of Rovaniemi, Enontekio, Ivalo and Kittila, all located in the snowy north of Scandinavia. Activities include riding a snowmobile or a sleigh drawn by huskies and, for younger travellers, the chance to visit Santa in his grotto!
Ski holidays are also proving popular despite the credit crunch, with European resorts having enjoyed the biggest November snowfalls for a decade. France, Austria, Andorra and Bulgaria are amongst this year’s favourites with South West ski fanatics.
For those looking for inspiration when it comes to buying gifts, the Christmas markets of Germany are now within reach via Lufthansa’s three times daily service to Frankfurt and the onward connections available as a result. OLT also flies direct to Bremen and Hamburg, and easyJet direct to Berlin, with all three cities featuring famous markets full of handmade crafts and traditional toys.
But it is far from one-way traffic. Bristol International is also expecting an influx of overseas visitors to the South West during the festive season, with many travellers returning home for the holidays or visiting friends and family in the region.
Passengers travelling through Bristol International during December can enjoy Christmas menus at the airport’s restaurants and cafés, a range of promotional offers on Christmas gifts in the terminal’s shops, and entertainment from carol singers from local schools and Wells Cathedral Choir (17th December).
Alison Roberts, General Manager (Terminal) at Bristol International Airport, said:
“At Christmas the majority of passengers are going away with family or friends or returning home for the holidays. As a result, there is a festive atmosphere across the airport, and the arrivals area is usually the scene of several tearful reunions!
“As a 24 hour operation, open 365 days a year, some of our team will be working over Christmas, but knowing that we play a small part in bringing people together at this special time of year makes it all worthwhile.”