- Posted 16th April 2005
THE SKY'S THE LIMIT - STAGGERING FIGURES FOR AIRPORT'S FIRST YEAR
A HIGH-flying 1.3 million passengers are set to travel through Finningley's new airport in its first year, it has been revealed.
Seat sales for Thomsonfly budget flights in and out of Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport have already topped 200,000 with tens of thousands more holidaymakers booked to board charter routes.
Airport owner Peel says the phenomenal take-up means that passenger numbers in the long-term will probably exceed earlier estimates.
Managing director David Ryall said: "We are very encouraged that sales for Thomsonfly.com are fast approaching a quarter of a million seat sectors, sold before we have even commenced operation.
"We continue to work closely with our launch operator TUI to expand existing commitments and with the recent addition of flights to Egypt via Thomson Holidays we look forward to continuing to provide more choice for the regions we serve."
Original proposals outlined by Peel anticipated that the airport would serve 2.3 million by the year 2014, but this week's figures suggest it will reach more than half that capacity in its initial 12 months.
The countdown has now begun to full operation at the £80 million airport - which got the go-ahead following a lengthy public inquiry four years ago.
Thomsonfly launches its first scheduled flights to Palma Airport , Faro, Alicante Airport and Malaga Airport on April 28 when Ryanair's daily Dublin service also gets underway.
The following day, Thomsonfly flights start to Prague, Jersey and Dublin and, from May 20, to Valencia, Paris and Pisa. Passengers can fly out to Ibiza from June 10. In addition, holiday flights will operate to several resorts including Tunisia and Turkey.
A spokesman for Thomsonfly and Thomson Holidays, both part of the TUI group, commented: "Demand for flights is still going strong, particularly from people living in the immediate Doncaster,/Sheffield area.
In the run-up to April 28, traffic cops from South Yorkshire Police Road Policing Group will patrol major roads leading to the airport as well as roads in and around the complex itself.
Their aim is to provide public reassurance by maintaining the current level of road safety. They will monitor any increase in traffic and provide a visible presence in the area," a spokesman commented.
She added: "Local police officers will also be increasing their patrol activities in the area. They will be monitoring the effects of the airport on the local communitiies to ensure that they are able to maintain their current level of service to the public."
The first signs directing traffic to the airport have gone up around Finningley, but motorists will not spot any further afield until a few days before flights are launched.
Orignal Aritcle Doncaster Today
