easyJet announces 3 cities to network: Gdansk, Innsbruck and Bari

easyJet, Europe’s leading low-fares airline, today announced the introduction of 11 new routes, including the addition of three new cities to its network – Gdansk, Innsbruck and Bari.

The airline’s expansion to Bucharest and Gdansk represents the airline’s commitment to growth in Central Eastern Europe, whilst the addition of Innsbruck to the network will continue to position the airline as the first choice for independent skiers.

This announcement follows the recent news that the airline will also expand with new services from; Bristol to Madiera and Lisbon (starts 29 October and 31 October respectively); Gatwick to Lisbon (starts 1 October); Stansted to Madiera (starts 29 October); Edinburgh and Bournemouth to Krakow (starts 29 October and 30 October respectively).

The new routes commencing operation this winter are:

Route - Commences - Frequencies - One way fares incl taxes

London Gatwick - Bucharest - 29 October - Daily £24.99
London Gatwick - Gdansk - 1 October - Daily £24.99
London Gatwick - Innsbruck - 14 December - 6 weekly (excl Sat) £24.99
Edinburgh - Gdansk - 30 October - 3 weekly (Tue, Thur, Sun) £24.99
Bristol - Gdansk - 30 October - 3 weekly ( Tue, Thur, Sat) £21.99
Bristol - Innsbruck - 14 December - 3 weekly ( Mon, Fri, Sun) £24.99
Madrid - Bucharest - 29 October - 4 weekly (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) €18.99
Madrid – Paris (Charles de Gaulle) - 1 November Daily €18.99
Nice - Brussels - 5 November - Daily €26.99
Milan (Malpensa) - Barcelona - 8 October Daily €21.99
Milan (Malpensa) - Bari - 1 October Daily €21.99

Bucharest

Located on the Dambovita River, the historic Romanian capital was once known as ‘Little Paris’ thanks to its French inspired architecture and is now returning to its former cosmopolitan glory after overthrowing the communist regime in 1989. With its renewed vigour focusing on tourism, this friendly city provides a fascinating mixture of history and cultural heritage combining Romanian aristocracy, French and German influences and communist society.

The city is home to a variety of museums, art galleries, concert halls and 18th and 19th century palaces on wide tree lined boulevards. The most famous sights being the city’s very own Triumphal Arch on the elegant Soseaua Kiseleff boulevard, the grand Royal Palace and the majestic Palace of Parliament - the world’s second largest building after the US Pentagon, which is a powerful reminder of the communist years.

Bucharest is also well known for vibrant nightlife, with a wide range of bars and cool nightclubs for partying until the early hours or for gambling away your Romanian Leu (the local currency) at one of the converted 18th century palace casinos.

Gdansk

The largest city in Northern Poland and known as the Tri-City region as it merges with neighbouring cities of Sopot and Gdynia to form a metropolis, Gdansk is situated on the Gulf of Gdansk and is a major historic Baltic port. Established as a fishing village in the 9th century, it grew and become a major Hanseatic trading port of the Teutonic Knights in medieval times. Throughout its history many have fought for control of the city recognising its potential to dominate the Baltic trade routes, including Napoleon, who is to have said ‘Gdansk is the key to everything’ and the Nazi’s who started WWII here at dawn on 1 September 1939.

Gdansk, which was devastated in the war, saw significant post-war reconstruction as the communists rebuilt the city identically, brick by brick to its former glory and now the historic centre feels like you have stepped in to a 16th century time warp, with its gothic and renaissance architecture, market squares and waterfronts. The city’s major sights, including Europe's largest; brick gothic church - St Mary’s; astronomical clock; medieval mill and medieval crane are all in walking distance.

Gdansk is a fascinating, vibrant, historic city full of soul and still continues to play a key role in modern history and is the home of solidarity and birthplace of Lech Walesa, the trade union leader who formed the Solidarity movement, which instigated the end of Communism in Eastern Europe.

Innsbruck

The provincial capital of the Tyrol, is situated in the valley of the Inn River between the Alps and the Tuxer Mountains. Established in 1180 this prestigious and picturesque city, with its fine examples of Tyrolean architecture has a compact old town – The Altstadt, with a relaxed daytime atmosphere and buzzling nightlife.

Once home to the Tyrolean Habsburgs, Innsbruck boasts a number of fascinating monuments and sights including the 14th century Baroque and Rococo styled Hofburg Imperial Palace, the Hofkirche Imperial Church – with its impressive renaissance tomb of Maximilian I and the Volkskunst Museum with its fine collection of folk art.

Not only an ideal city break destination, Innsbruck is a perfect base for exploring the rest of the Tyrol and is a gateway for outdoors activities and particularly skiing and other winter sports. Innsbruck, twice home to the Winter Olympics (1964 and 1976), will also host the 2008 European Football Championships.