Zoom Airlines has announced two new routes for 2008. The new routes will operate from London Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale in Florida and San Diego in Southern California. The first of Zoom’s new routes will be launched in May 2008 from London Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale in Florida. Zoom will be the first scheduled airline in 10 years to offer flights from any European airport to this sunshine resort.

From June 2008, Zoom will offer a direct air service between Europe and San Diego when Zoom’s flights from London to the southern Californian city are introduced. San Diego is notable as being the largest US city without a 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 routes which confirmed Zoom’s position as the leading low-fare airline across the Atlantic.

John Boyle said: “These new routes confirm our commitment to offering customers lower airfares across the Atlantic. Direct flights to Fort Lauderdale and 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 this year with our launch of flights to New York.”

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

Fort Lauderdale welcomes over 200,000 UK visitors a year to enjoy the constant sunshine of this subtropical resort.

 

Nicki E. Grossman, President of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, said: “What a wonderful holiday place for our friends from the UK. Pound for pound sterling, they can't find better value and we welcome Zoom to Greater Fort Lauderdale’s sunny shores.”

Kent George, Aviation Director, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, said: “The Broward County Commissioners and Ft Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport welcome Zoom Airlines and their new service to our community. This service to the great city of London offers both our business and leisure travellers’ new opportunities to access all of Europe.”

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.

Caroline Beteta, Executive Director at California Tourism and Trade Commission said: “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.”

There are also planning to launch an additional route from London Gatwick to the USA during 2008.