Hello Birmingham!

Monarch Airlines launched its first flight to Gibraltar from Birmingham Airport on Saturday 23rd March 2013.

The flight to and from Gibraltar will operate three times a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday until the end of April and Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from then on. Onboard the flight was the Gibraltar Tourist Board’s Chief Executive, Nicky Guerrero, and Kevin George, Managing Director of Monarch Airlines. A draw was held onboard with a number of prizes donated by the airline and Gibraltar’s tourism industry partners. The Hon Neil Costa MP , Minister for Tourism, Commercial Affairs, Public Transport and the Port was at Gibraltar International Airport to welcome passengers arriving from Birmingham alongside Air Terminal Director Terence Lopez, the Gibraltar Tourist Board’s Marketing Manager Audrey Vella and Miss World 2009 Kaiane Aldorino.

Passengers were also greeted by representatives from the Gibraltar Tourist Board and were presented with small gifts to mark the occasion. Adding colour and history to the welcome were members of the Gibraltar History Alive Re-enactment Society. Commenting on the new summer flights from Birmingham Airport, Monarch Airlines’ Managing Director, Kevin George, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the departure of our first flight to Gibraltar, part of our route network expansion for Summer 2013. Gibraltar has always been a popular route for Monarch Airlines’ passengers and it’s great now that we can offer this service from the West Midlands.”

Minister Costa said: “Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar is delighted to have worked with Monarch Airlines to make the start of services from Birmingham Airport to Gibraltar a reality. This new route opens up another important catchment area in the UK for visitors to Gibraltar. This route will allow for greater opportunities in leisure and business travel to the Rock from the West Midlands and we look forward to seeing growth in this respect. The Government continues to explore additional services from the UK with the current airline partners and looks forward to expansion for the future. Gibraltar has much to offer our visitors making it an ideal short break leisure destination whilst offering business opportunities in an efficient and well regulated environment. We look forward to working with Monarch Airlines who now offer more destinations from Gibraltar than ever before.”