KLM
RETURNS TO LIVERPOOL AFTER 70 YEARS AND OPENS UP THE WORLD TO
LIVERPOOL PASSENGERS
KLM Royal
Dutch Airlines has announced its intention to operate new services
out of Liverpool John Lennon Airport, thereby renewing a
partnership, which first began seventy years ago. On commencement of
its 2009 summer schedule, KLM will launch a new service between
Amsterdam and Liverpool, connecting the Liverpool City Region,
Cheshire and North Wales with over 100 worldwide destinations on
KLM’s own intercontinental network and with over 650 destinations
across KLM’s Skyteam
partner networks.
Effective from 29 March 2009, KLM cityhopper will operate the new
scheduled service three times daily using Fokker 70 jet aircraft
carrying up to 80 passengers. The flight schedule will be:-
Dept =
0615 LPL
0925 AMS
1030 LPL
1625 AMS
1730 LPL
2030 AMS
Arrive =
0835 AMS
0950 LPL
1250 AMS
1650 LPL
1950 AMS
2055 LPL
Seats will be
bookable from Tuesday, 4 November 2008, via
www.klm.com, at KLM
Reservations on 0871 222 7474 and local travel agents. The flight
schedule may be subject to modification.
KLM first flew services from Liverpool to Amsterdam on 1 June 1934*
until 31 August 1939 but once WW2 began flights were discontinued
until now.
The launch of the Liverpool service continues KLM’s expansion of its
regional UK network bringing the total of British airports served by
the airline to 15 and making it on of the UK’s largest regional full
service intercontinental carrier with a network that stretches from
Aberdeen to London.
KLM’s decision to reintroduce services out of Liverpool John Lennon
Airport follows extensive research across its UK passenger base and
with key travel trade partners. The research showed a growing demand
from businesses in the North West of the UK for expansion to
Liverpool as well as from the large student population. The UK’s
fourth largest city, and one of its fastest growing business
centres, has a core catchment area of 1.2 million passengers with a
wider catchment area of 6.9 million passengers. In addition the
city’s international profile has grown with its current accolade of
European Capital of Culture 2008.
Pieter Elbers, Senior Vice President Network at KLM:- “We are
delighted to be renewing our partnership with Liverpool after such a
long absence. By adding Liverpool to our network today, KLM has
further strengthened its position in the UK market, one of the most
important markets in the extensive network of KLM.” The UK
accounts for 17% of KLM’s worldwide traffic.
The new services will connect Liverpool John Lennon Airport to KLM’s
hub at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, an airport which is consistently
voted one of Europe’s best business airports and this year was voted
Best Airport in Europe at the Business Traveller magazine Awards.
Says Neil Pakey, deputy CEO of the Peel Airports Group, owners of
Liverpool John Lennon Airport:- “The announcement of KLM to
commence flights to the Schiphol hub in Amsterdam, is a lasting
legacy for Liverpool's Capital of Culture year, providing global
connectivity for the Liverpool City Region.
KLM's flights will make doing business with international markets in
Liverpool much more straight forward and attractive, and for people
looking to experience new destinations and cultures, across Asia,
Africa or the Americas, then KLM's offer at John Lennon Airport will
deliver this for Liverpool for the first time.”
Liverpool’s emergence as a premier European city destination has
been underlined by huge investments in recent years that have
strengthened the City Region’s economy. Liverpool’s growth continues
to be a UK success story. Over five years, the growth of Liverpool’s
economy (up by 27.7%) has exceeded that of Manchester, Bristol and
Birmingham. The region hosts major operations by key international
Dutch companies such as Shell and Unilever as well as other
international brands including Pilkingtons; Jaguar Land Rover;
Vauxhall; Prinovis; JP Morgan Invest and Coutts Bank.
Lorraine Rogers, Chief Executive of investment and tourism body The
Mersey Partnership comments:- “This route adds an exciting new
dimension to Liverpool City Region’s connectivity to the rest of the
world.
It will
be a significant driver for further growth across our business
sectors including tourism, and once again positions Liverpool at the
centre of worldwide connections.
Delivering this
hub connection for Liverpool City Region has been both an Airport
and a TMP priority for three years and we are delighted that
agreement has been reached with a carrier of the calibre, reputation
and experience of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.”
* In 1934 KLM flew 969 passengers, 3984kgs of cargo and 564kgs of
mail to and from Liverpool Airport.
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CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS AS THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE...
HOME Bargains,
the top brand, bottom price retailer, is rolling out its Go Create
‘08’ charity Christmas cards and mugs, designed by
locals for locals.
All profits, of over £40,000, will be given to charities across
Merseyside, including Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
As part of its ‘Go Create ‘08’ campaign, Home Bargains
launched a design competition earlier I the year, challenging local
school children to design a Christmas card or mug that celebrates
Liverpool’s year as ‘European Capital of Culture’.
Across the city, budding artists painted their hearts out. 8 winning
Christmas card and mug designs have been chosen and
will be on sale across 32 Home Bargain Stores in Merseyside from
Monday, 3 November 2008.
Designs include:-
14 year old Dina
Kearns “Liverpool Christmas”;
7 year old Caitlin
Hinchliff’s colourful interpretation of the 3 Kings;
17 year old Christopher Doody’s watercolour ‘Winter
Wonderland’;
13 year old Katie Carvell’s original drawing of the Beatles at
Christmas time.
As well as having
their designs in households throughout Liverpool, the lucky winners
also received £100 of Home Bargains vouchers.
Joe Morris, operations director at Home Bargains, said:- “The
competition has proved to be a massive success. The designs that we
received were truly outstanding and really show off the young talent
in our city.”
All designs celebrate the spirit of Liverpool and will capture the
hearts of Liverpudlians, young and old.
These cards will definitely take centre stage on the mantel piece
and the mugs will provide a timeless stocking filler for the whole
family.
Cards cost only £1.99 for a pack of 8 and mugs are priced at £1.99 a
piece.
Alongside the Christmas card and mug competition, Go Create ’08 has
encouraged the people of Liverpool to get creative through a range
of other projects, including a giant tapestry of the city and a
regional art competition.
The winning art pieces from this competition will be showcased and
sold at 60 Hope Street Restaurant from 13 November 2008.
So, if you’re looking for an original idea for Christmas, think no
further. Get down to any Home Bargains Store across
Merseyside.
Value for money & accountability in EU budget!
CONSERVATIVE
MEPs have voted for better value for money in the European
Parliament's vote on the 2009 EU budget, Sir Robert Atkins MEP,
said.
"National governments propose a budget, which must be ratified
by MEPS, but the parliament sought to increase the proposed budget
beyond that proposed by the Council.
Conservatives voted to shave costs by ending funding for ECOSOC and
the committee of the Regions, and scrapping some of the most
profligate budget lines such as tobacco and wine subsidies.
Conservatives also supported an unsuccessful effort to withhold five
percent of the budget until certain countries meet the requirements
of the court of auditors." said the Conservative Party.
Sir Robert said:- "This budget will come under the one percent
threshold of Gross National Income, which Conservatives have set as
the upper limit of EU spending.
We approached this budget with three key questions:-
Are we getting
value for money?
Does the EU add
value in spending this money that national governments could not add
themselves?
And is there
sufficient accountability?
There is still far too much waste in the budget, and we will
continue to delete budget lines that are unjustified.
As people
across Britain tighten their belts, we think it is imperative to cut
the wasteful areas of EU spending." |