A total of 96 passengers boarded the FlyDirect charter flight, operated by airBaltic, as the new winter sun route took off – just days after stormy weather battered the island.
Among those hoping to make the most of the half-term break was the Cooney family – Laura, Paul and their daughters Thea, 6, and Isla, 10 – who were looking forward to sunshine, a hotel stay and a trip to a water park in Costa Adeje.
For them, the convenience of flying directly from Guernsey was a major attraction.
‘It’s massive,’ said Mrs Cooney.
‘We looked at other places going via Gatwick, but we would have spent more on those flights than this flight. And when you’ve only got a week off, going direct is so much easier. You haven’t got to add on extra travel days.’
She said the family had been looking for somewhere warm to visit during the school break, and the new route made Tenerife an appealing choice.
‘We’re very excited,’ she said.
The inaugural service was operated by an airBaltic 148-seat Airbus A220-300, equipped with free high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi.
The aircraft type is no stranger to Guernsey, having operated FlyDirect’s Gran Canaria service last year, but Tenerife is a new addition to the island’s direct holiday destinations.
Aurigny duty manager Alex Hill, who helped handle the aircraft on its inaugural departure, welcomed the expansion.
‘It’s exciting. It’s a new destination for the island,’ he said.
‘It just proves that although the runway is short, it can be done with the limitations.’
Mr Hill, who travelled to Gran Canaria on the aircraft last year, said he would welcome more direct destinations in future.
The airBaltic first officer, Randar Laid, was equally enthusiastic about the new route, after touching down in the island for the first time.
‘Always happy to do new routes and new destinations,’ he said. ‘The landing was great. It’s a short runway, but it’s the perfect aircraft to do this in.’
The Tenerife service is scheduled to operate again from 21 December until 1 March, offering islanders another opportunity to swap winter chills for Canary Islands sunshine.
Across Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man, a total of 390 holidaymakers were expected to enjoy a Tenerife break through FlyDirect’s services.
You need to be logged in to comment.