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Zoom puts San Diego on the map

11th February 2008 Print

Zoom Airlines, the leading low-fare transatlantic airline, has announced that it will be operating a new route from London Gatwick to San Diego in Southern California for summer 2008.

From June this year, Zoom will offer the only direct non-stop air service between Europe and San Diego when flights linking London with the southern Californian city are introduced.

San Diego is one of California’s best kept secrets and home to a unique blend of surfside-chic that makes it the place to be seen in California in 2008. The backdrop for cult movies including Some Like It Hot and Top Gun, San Diego is the latest celebrity hangout and a flurry of exciting high-spec, yet affordable, hotels, bars and restaurants, have recently opened both city centre and ocean-side. Families can enjoy Coronado Beach, one of the top family beaches in the US, meet the pandas at San Diego Zoo or dine with Shamu at SeaWorld while golfers can look forward to the US Open at Torrey Pines in June 2008.

San Diego is the US’ seventh largest city and offers 70 miles of spectacular beaches and a year round Mediterranean climate. Being only two hours drive to Disneyland in Anaheim and only half an hours drive to Mexico, San Diego offers an abundance of options as an impressive holiday destination.

Zoom will be introducing a twice weekly service from London Gatwick with flights departing on Mondays and Fridays. Fares start at £449 return including all taxes and charges.

San Diego is notable as being the largest US city without direct European air service, and there are around 80,000 passengers a year travelling to London via alternative US airports including Atlanta, Dallas and Houston.

Hugh and John Boyle, the owners of Zoom, said that they were delighted to announce the new route which extends Zoom’s position as the leading low-fare airline across the Atlantic.

John Boyle said: “This new route confirms our commitment to offering customers lower airfares across the Atlantic. Direct non-stop flights to San Diego will offer a convenient low-fare service from London which allows customers to avoid the need to change planes en route. It’s all part of the low-fare revolution that we started earlier last year with our launch of flights to New York.”

“San Diego is an extremely popular holiday destinations and we are delighted to be offering low-cost travel allowing the British public to enjoy one of the most outstanding holiday destinations in the world.”

Caroline Beteta, Executive Director California Tourism and Trade Commission says: “We are absolutely delighted that Zoom is putting San Diego on the map with this new route. San Diego is the second largest city in California and for many represents the epitome of the Californian lifestyle with its beaches, great climate and relaxed atmosphere. We hope that people will take advantage of this direct route to experience southern California.”

Zoom operates an ‘easyJet-style’ booking service with flexible one-way fares and the flights offer economy and Premium economy services with designated seating, meals service and ‘plenty of frills’.

New routes to Fort Lauderdale in the Summer and Denver in the Winter are also being introduced to Zoom’s portfolio of flight offerings for 2008.

Zoom has operated full-service, low-cost flights from the UK to Canada for the last three years and was granted permission this year to operate from London Gatwick as an official UK carrier to the United States. Zoom also introduced direct flights from London Gatwick to Bermuda this summer.