Bournemouth voted best UK airport

[November 28th 2008]

Bournemouth airport has been voted best UK airport by readers of the Telegraph, while regional airline Jet2.com has won best UK low cost airline.

The Telegraph Travel Awards 2008 were based on responses by 25,000 readers, which the paper says makes them Britain’s biggest survey of travel habits. In the survey 92% of respondents said the credit crunch would have no effect on their choice of destination.

Best airport was again won by Singapore Changi airport, with Hong Kong as runner up. But the surprise package was Bournemouth airport, which came in third place and ahead of all other UK airports. The Telegraph says this illustrates the growing popularity of regional airports, which are now used by more than 100 million Brits each year.

There was another honour for Singapore in the best airline category, with national airline Singapore Airlines taking first place ahead of Virgin Atlantic and Emirates. Monarch, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, was named best charter airline for the second year running.

In the best low cost airline category, German airline Air Berlin won, also for the second successive year. The Telegraph praises the airline for coming through a tough period. After XL Airways went bust that in the summer there were bets that Air Berlin would be the next airline to go bankrupt. In response Air Berlin has launched long haul flights from Stansted airport to destinations including Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Bangkok and the Maldives.

Jet2.com, based at Leeds Bradford airport, followed up being voted best short haul airline by readers of the Guardian and Observer with best placing for a UK airline in the best low cost airline category of the Telegraph Travel Awards, just behind Air Berlin.

“This is the second consumer-voted accolade that we have received in as many months and is further testament to how highly regarded we are by our customers and further secures our position as the country’s leading low fare airline,” comments Jet2.com boss, Philip Meeson.

“In a difficult year for the UK travel industry, we have seen record trading and load factors and we have been able to do this by introducing exciting leisure destinations that our customers want, at great value fares, at the times they want to fly,” Meeson adds.

Written by: Nick Purdom

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