New Barcelona service from Cardiff Airport

Thomsonfly has announced that it will become the first airline to offer low fare flights between Cardiff and Barcelona.

Flights commence in May 2007 and go on sale today 12th December 2006, Thomsonfly will operate four flights per week with prices starting from just £22.99 one way, including taxes and charges.

Barcelona continues to top the popularity charts as one of the most dynamic and stylish cities in the world. Visitors can not only enjoy the vibrant street life on Las Ramblas and other fine streets, the fascinating Gaudi Cathedral and houses, and trendy bars, shops and wonderful restaurants, but also the stunning coastline, warm Mediterranean Sea and wealth of beautiful beaches. If this isn't enough, there are also Barcelona's world famous museums and galleries, while sports fans are well catered for with the city boasting the world's second largest football stadium, the Nou Camp.

Barcelona is also the first major Spanish city and business centre to be linked by a direct air service to Cardiff and will provide an important stimulus to inbound tourism to Wales from Spain, as well as improving business, cultural and educational links, and inward investment opportunities.

The new route reinforces Thomsonfly's position as the number one airline at Cardiff airport, flying more passengers than any other airline. Thomsonfly will offer seven low fares services from Cardiff next summer including Barcelona, Faro, Jersey, Alicante, Malaga, Palma and Ibiza, with prices starting from as little as £19.99 one way to Jersey, including taxes and charges.

Guy Stephenson, Thomsonfly's commercial director, comments: "We are very happy with the recent development of our services from Cardiff and we're pleased to expand our route network to meet demand in this increasingly dynamic and fast growing region. The introduction of flights between Cardiff and Barcelona is a very exciting milestone for both Cardiff and Thomsonfly: this is the first time a major new international route has been launched from Cardiff Airport with the support of the Welsh Assembly.

Guy added: "We are proud to offer consumers in Cardiff and across the whole of Wales the opportunity to fly to a wide variety of inspiring European destinations at affordable prices. Thomsonfly will continue to work closely with Cardiff Airport and the Welsh Assembly on opportunities for further route development."

Speaking about the new route Andrew Davies, Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks said: "It is good news for Wales that Thomsonfly are expanding their services from Cardiff. The addition of new routes will provide improved business connectivity and new tourism opportunities and will help to improve the economic development of Wales as a whole."

Jon Horne, Managing Director, Cardiff International Airport added: "Linking Cardiff and Wales with the major cities of Europe is a key objective of Cardiff International Airport and so we are delighted at Thomsonfly's decision to commence services to Barcelona. This new service will, I am sure, build on the already significant success Thomsonfly has achieved at Cardiff and we look forward to working towards even greater success in the future."

Thomsonfly remains committed to providing a high level of customer service and offers allocated seating on all flights unlike the majority of low fares airlines, as well as providing passengers with the opportunity to pre-reserve seats and extra legroom. Thomsonfly offers customers a free and flexible baggage allowance totalling 25kg, of which up to 10kg can be hand luggage if desired.

Thomsonfly now services 20 UK airports with low fare flights to over 80 destinations. Flights can be booked at thomsonfly.com.