Flybe announced the launch of its winter schedule 2005, with a total of 14 new routes and 3.1million seats now on offer nation-wide. The winter programme will offer a mix of ski, winter sun and popular city routes as part of flybe.`s overall strategy of continued investment and expansion of both its domestic and international route network.

The winter timetable sees the addition of six new routes at Norwich International Airport, bringing the total number of routes operated from the airport by flybe. to 10 since its launch in East Anglia late last year. The programme sees flybe. delivering on its promise to provide a first rate, value airline service for the region, bringing the benefits of low cost air travel to East Anglia for the first time.

Significant and continued expansion has also been phased in at Exeter, Birmingham and Southampton, with new routes and increases in frequency on existing routes.

These major developments support the company`s successful growth plan and confirm its commitment to consolidating its profile as one of the largest regional low fares business and leisure carriers in the UK, with a network stretching across the backbone of Britain.

Flybe.`s new routes announced as part of its 2005/6 winter schedule, also include :

• Norwich to Alicante, Malaga, Chambery, Geneva, Aberdeen and Dublin
• Exeter to Chambery, Geneva and Murcia
• Birmingham to Berne
• Southampton to Berne

These are in addition to popular ski routes that have been re-introduced across the network in time for the winter season:

• Birmingham to Chambery, Geneva and Salzburg
• Southampton to Chambery, Geneva and Salzburg

Mike Rutter, Sales and Marketing Director, flybe., commented: The new winter schedule is a balanced programme to further expand our already comprehensive route network, building on both our domestic and international successes.

Rutter continued, The mix of new ski, winter sun and popular city routes in addition to increased frequency and capacity on existing routes is further testament to our commitment to expanding our offering, giving customers more choice than ever before. We are committed to offering a first rate, convenient regional airline service, and by aggressively increasing our operations we are successfully marrying convenient regional travel with great value and choice.

He concluded, With exciting destinations such as Chambery and Murcia available direct from regional bases, people no longer need to travel to major London airports to reap the benefits of low cost travel.