Airport Parking News

www.Parctel.com: Flybe will start operating its first direct flights between Exeter and Rennes today (Tuesday 8th May).The two cities were twinned over 50 years ago and to celebrate the airline is flying two passengers to the French airport and two passengers to Devon on the inaugural flights.

There will be a welcoming reception at both Exeter International Airport and RennesAirport with tea and a celebratory cake available for the twinning committee and passengers. In Exeter Isabelle Guillaume-Tariel and Chantal Tiriault from the Rennes Twinning Association will be in the first flight arriving at 15:50 and Brenda Kite will represent Exeter.

Rennes, the capital of Brittany, is packed with bars, bistros and bookshops.The town has a grand Neo-classical layout featuring some outstanding architecture and is well known for its music festivals.

Spokesman for Exeter International Airport, Stephen Ayres said, "This is a great day, not just for the twinning groups, but for the all those of the South West who would like to experience a wonderful part of France.We hope that the flights, which are operating three times a week, will prove very popular."

www.Parctel.com: The number of passengers using Exeter International Airport in the past twelve months has reached one million. This is an increase of 15 per cent on the previous twelve months and makes Exeter one of the fastest growing airports in the UK.

To mark this historic milestone, the airport identified Helen Veale who was flying from the airport on Tuesday 10 April 2007 and she became the first ever Millionth Passenger in one Year.

Helen, who was travelling with partner Michael and daughter Ellie Star were notified of their significance after check-in and given vouchers for travel and shopping plus free parking at the airport. Before boarding the First Choice aircraft to Tenerife the 'special' passengers were also given a bottle of Champagne together with a certificate which stated their importance. When asked by the TV and newspaper reporters how she felt about being the one millionth passenger, Helen replied, "Its not what I expected when we left our home in Cornwall this morning... it was a great surprise when we heard that we were special and the gifts have been wonderful."

John Spooner, Acting Managing Director for Exeter International Airport said: "This is a momentous occasion in the history of the airport. The airport welcomed it first flight 70 years ago but the growth in passenger traffic has been phenomenal in recent years." The airport's growth has been significant since since the spring of 2004 and the introduction of Flybe scheduled services. In that year the airport had a 70% passenger number increase and reached the landmark of a half million passengers for the period."

Mike Rutter, Chief Commercial Officer for, Exeter based airline, Flybe said: "Flybe has been responsible for nearly three quarters of the passengers that have made up the million and we congratulate the airport on attaining this landmark figure in its growth."

The airport offers 23 scheduled service routes, which will soon be increased to 25 and a similar number of summer charter holiday destinations from Exeter. This year travellers from the south west will also have the choice of two carriers on the route to Toronto.

Helen Veale, travelling partner, Michael and Helen's Daughter, Ellie Star.

Air safety investigators are checking claims that an aircraft dumped fuel over a Devon town after a series of complaints about acrid fumes.

Some Ottery St Mary people felt sick and the post sorting office was closed as people were overcome by the smell.

The town is five miles from Exeter Airport but no aircraft have reported dropping fuel.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said fuel dumping was rare and should be carried out over sea at high altitude.

Headache complaints

Lynn Swaffield-Williams said she was sickened by the smell on Wednesday morning, which she and other residents suspected was aeroplane fuel.

She said: "I had never smelt anything like it. It made me and my 10-year-old daughter feel really sick for a couple of hours."

Sub postmistress Sharon Fabry, who had to evacuate the building because of the smell, said: "Children were moaning about feeling ill and a couple of people said they could not get rid of headaches all day."

The CAA, which is checking aircraft logs, said it would be notified if any aircraft dumped fuel.

A spokesman said: "The only reason would be an emergency.

"If a plane is too heavy it cannot land safely."

Wales and West Gas, who checked the area, ruled out a gas leak.

A spokesman said: "In the past this has happened when aircraft have offloaded fuel before landing.

"If the winds are strong vapour can be carried inland resulting in a similar smell to gas."

Spokesmen at both Bristol and Exeter Airports said no aircraft had discharged fuel.

Source: BBC

EXETER International Airport has been sold in a £60m deal.

Owner Devon County Council said it had been sold to Regional and City Airports (Exeter).

Council leader Brian Greenslade said the money would be "put to good use on behalf of the people of Devon".

As part of the sale, London City Airport will provide additional management expertise through a technical services agreement to support the further growth and development of Exeter International Airport.

The county council will retain a "golden share" - requiring the new owner to provide and maintain airport standards - and a non-executive seat on the board of the airport.

Mr Greenslade said RCA was the "unanimous choice".

RCA director of airport management, John Spooner, said the company had a vision for Exeter International Airport, in which it becomes the natural airport of choice for the region.

Source: icWales