Coinciding with British Airway’s decision to suspend its flight to Seville Airport indefinitely, Paulino Plata, the regional minister of tourism, commerce and sports, urged the city to make the most of the growing weight of low-cost airlines in the Andalusian air travel market.
An increasingly busier airport
The number of travellers using San Pablo Airport increased 74% between 2002 and 2005, an above average growth as regards Andalusian airports, estimated at 33%, registering more than 9.5 million arrivals.
British Airways flights dropped 17.6% between January and September 2006, which according to the regional minister is equivalent to two or three percent of the airport’s annual activity since 2004.
A way of overcoming seasonality
In the words of Mr Plata, the arrival of low-cost airlines will contribute to overcoming the seasonality affecting Andalusian tourism, as well as allowing tourists to spend the money they save at the destination.
