Top events and activities in November

With the nights drawing in and the weather getting colder, bmibaby has found the best events taking place in Europe to lift people’s spirits in November.

Amsterdam

Sinterklass

For all Christmas lovers, head to Amsterdam on 15 November 2009, when Sinterklaas arrives in Amsterdam by ship, he then rides a white horse through the city centre in a festive parade.  Sinterklaas is usually accompanied by 500 elves, 10 marching bands and hundreds of festive marchers – definitely a spectacle not to be missed.  For more information visit:  http://www.amsterdam.info/events/sinterklaas/

Museumnacht

On 7 November 2009, Amsterdam hosts one of its most unique events: Museumnacht or Museum Night.  Dozens of museums offer special themed events and performances usually between 7pm and 2am!  The programs includes: jazz concerts, DJs, dance performances, poetry readings, unusual tours and interactive workshops.  For more information visit:  http://goamsterdam.about.com/od/eventsfestivalsholidays/p/museumnacht.htm

bmibaby fly from Birmingham, Manchester and East Midlands Airport to Amsterdam and fares start from just £24.99 one way including taxes and charges.

Jersey

Bar Billiards Championship

From 6 – 8 November 2009, Jersey is home to the annual Bar Billiards Championships.  This unusual sport has been popular in pubs throughout the UK for more than a century and the championship attracts people from the British Isles.  Last year the event attracted more than 200 competitors.

bmibaby fly from Cardiff, Manchester and East Midlands Airport to Jersey and fares start from just £24.99 one way including taxes and charges.

Scotland

Homecoming Scotland Finale

From 26 -30 November 2009, Scotland will celebrate the finale of Homecoming.  This culminates a year long programme of events that have commemorated the 250th anniversary of poet Robert Burns’ birth.  The final weekend of homecoming has something for everyone from fireworks to banquets, gigs to ceilidhs, and parades to parties.  Visit http://www.homecomingscotland2009.com/default.html for more information.

bmibaby fly from Birmingham and East Midlands Airport to Glasgow and Edinburgh and fares start from just £18.99 one way including taxes and charges.  bmibaby also fly from Cardiff to Edinburgh.

Belfast

Cinemagic

For kids of all ages head to Belfast between 18 November and 4 December 2009 for Cinemagic.  This festival is one of the largest of its kind in the UK and Ireland has a mixture of movie premieres and workshops, suitable for all ages.  For more information visithttp://www.cinemagic.org.uk/

bmibaby fly from Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and East Midlands Airport to Belfast and fares start from just £5.99 one way including taxes and charges.

Prague

Christmas Markets

Christmas starts early in Prague - from 28 November 2009 the city centre is taken over by the traditional Christmas markets.  This is the perfect opportunity for a spot of Christmas shopping, guaranteed to offer a range of unique presents including jewellery, toys and candles.  If Christmas shopping in November is far too organised, then enjoy the hot wine and baked chestnuts and grilled sausages around the giant Christmas tree.  For more information visit:

http://www.pragueexperience.com/events/events.asp?EventYear=2009&EventMonth=11

bmibaby fly from Birmingham, Manchester, East Midlands and Belfast International Airport to Prague and fares start from just £24.99 one way including taxes and charges.

bmibaby announce new route from Jersey Airport

bmibaby, has today (9 December 2009) announced a new route from Jersey to Bournemouth Airport.  The summer service to Bournemouth will commence on 29 March 2010, with flights departing on Monday, Friday and Saturday.  The airline expects to carry over 24,000 passengers on the new route over the summer months. bmibaby is currently the only low cost carrier to operate flights from Jersey to Bournemouth.  Prices on the new route start from just £19.99, one way including taxes and charges. The airline also operates services from Jersey to Cardiff, Manchester and East Midlands Airport. 

Crawford Rix, managing director, bmibaby said:

“We are proud to introduce another new route to our flying programme from Jersey Airport, and we are confident that the new direct route to Bournemouth will be just as popular as the other services that we operate from the island. 

“We not only offer benefits such as allocated seating for everyone, but customers can also join bmi diamond club, the UK's most generous frequent flier programme. 

“bmibaby will continue to offer great low fares, and flights to Bournemouth will start from just £19.99 one way including all taxes.”

Senator Paul Routier, Assistant Minister for Economic Development, who has specific responsibility for Jersey Airport, said:

"I am delighted that bmibaby continues to demonstrate its commitment to Jersey, especially during a difficult period for the global aviation industry. The decision to operate a low cost service from Bournemouth alongside their three other established routes demonstrates their commitment to the Island and will offer travellers in both directions an alternative service to the south coast of England."

bmibaby celebrates inaugural flight from East Midlands Airport to Prague

bmibaby will celebrate the start of its new service from East Midlands Airport to Prague this week.  The inaugural flight departs from East Midlands on Friday 4 December 2009.  The airline expects to carry approximately 21,000 passengers on the new route over the winter period and the inaugural flight is already at over 90 per cent capacity.
 
bmibaby will operate three flights a week to the Czech capital on Friday, Sunday and Monday, making it the perfect destination for a weekend or a longer break.  The airline will also add extra flights to Prague over the busy Christmas period, to allow for the extra demand from those wanting to visit the famous Christmas markets.  Fares start from just £24.99 one way including taxes and charges.
 
Crawford Rix, managing director, bmibaby said:
 
“We are delighted to offer customers in the East Midlands a direct connection to one of the most beautiful and intriguing cities in Europe.  Prague offers a unique blend of dazzling architecture and enchanting cobbled streets, and is the perfect getaway for a romantic or a fun winter break.
 
“We have had a tremendous response to our new flights and we are confident that Prague will continue to be a very popular route from East Midlands Airport.”

Penny Coates, managing director, East Midlands Airport said:

"We are delighted bmibaby is continuing to grow its East Midlands base with a new three times weekly service to the popular city break destination of Prague. The new year round service highlights the continuing importance that bmibaby place on its East Midlands operation."

Try something different this December

For those looking to try something different this Christmas and New Years Eve, take a look at bmibaby’s top recommendations for events taking place in Europe:

Alicante 

Take a trip to Alicante for ‘Festitíteres’, the annual international puppet festival from 29 November to 8 December 2009.  With acts from all over the world, there is a diverse programme of events, workshops and performances.  The festival has been running since 1984 and attracts some of the world’s most renowned puppeteers.

Visit www.whatsonwhen.com for more details.

bmibaby flies to Alicante from Birmingham, East Midlands and Cardiff Airport.  Prices start from just £19.99 one way including taxes and charges.

Belfast

From 17 November – 19 December 2009, the grounds at Belfast City Hall come alive with festivities.   Dozens of stalls offer everything a Christmas shopper could desire from unusual gifts to food and drink.  Visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/ for more details.

bmibaby flies to Belfast International from Birmingham, East Midlands, Manchester and Cardiff Airport.  Prices start from just £5.99 one way including taxes and charges.

Edinburgh

For a spectacle not to be missed head to Edinburgh this Christmas and witness the Great Scottish Santa Run on 13 December 2009.  Hundreds of Santa’s dash through West Princes Street Gardens on a 1.5km course to raise money for children’s charities.  Visit www.edinburghschristmas.com/ for more information.  

bmibaby flies to Edinburgh from Birmingham, East Midlands and Cardiff Airport.  Prices start from just £22.99 one way including taxes and charges.

Faro

On 1 December 2009, Faro celebrates Independence Day, with a host of events taking place throughout the city.  Don’t miss the street performances and carnivals, with the day culminating in a massive firework spectacular.  Visit http://www.faro.world-guides.com/faro_events.html  for more information.

bmibaby flies to Faro from East Midlands and Cardiff Airport.  Prices start from just £19.99 one way including taxes and charges.

Glasgow

See in the New Year’s Eve with a difference in Glasgow as part of the Hogmanay celebrations.  On 31 December in George Square you can experience the best Scottish live music and see in the New Year with a bang as the fireworks finale lights up the sky. Visit www.winterfestglasgow.com/ for more details.

bmibaby flies to Glasgow from Birmingham and East Midlands Airport.  Prices start from just £22.99 one way including taxes and charges.

Jersey

Get into the Christmas spirit in Jersey and join in with the Christmas carols in St. Heliers Royal Square on 10 December 2009.  Or enjoy all your favourite Christmas flicks at Jersey Arts Centre between 19-20 December, as they show all the Christmas classics including It’s a Wonderful Life, The Polar Express and Miracle on 34th Street.  Best of all both these events are free!  Visit www.jersey.com for details.

bmibaby flies to Jersey from Manchester, East Midlands and Cardiff Airport.  Prices start from just £24.99 one way including taxes and charges.

Prague

Visit Prague in December and experience some of the best Christmas markets in Europe.  Wenceslas Square and the Old Town Square are filled with Christmas fayre and traditional gifts and music which will definitely get people into the Christmas spirit. Visit http://www.czechtourism.com/eng/uk/docs/holiday-tips/christmas-holiday/index.html for more details.

bmibaby flies to Prague from Manchester, East Midlands and Birmingham Airport.  Prices start from just £19.99 one way including taxes and charges.

bmibaby add extra winter flights from Jersey

bmibaby has announced it will add extra flights to its winter flying programme from Jersey to East Midlands Airport.

From 6 November 2009, the airline will operate a new Friday service to East Midlands Airport.  bmibaby currently operate flights from Jersey to the East Midlands on Monday, and Thursday. 

bmibaby is the only low cost airline to fly from Jersey to East Midlands Airport.  The airline also operates up to four flights a week to Manchester and two flights a week to Cardiff Airport over the winter period.  Flight prices start from just £19.99 one way including taxes and charges, and are bookable at www.bmibaby.com

Crawford Rix, managing director, bmibaby, said:

“There is a clear demand for more flights from Jersey to the East Midlands, so we are delighted to add an extra Friday service to our schedule. This will help to ensure we can meet the demand from people visiting friends and family over the winter period.”

The news has been equally welcomed by Jersey Airport as it opens up further travel options for both ex-Jersey departures as well as inbound visitors looking for a long weekend break in the island.

bmibaby launches a new way for people to donate to BBC Children in Need

Low cost airline bmibaby has launched a new way for people to donate money to BBC Children in Need, the airline’s national charity.  Passengers will now have the opportunity to donate £1 to the charity simply by ticking a ‘Donate to Pudsey’ box when making a booking online at bmibaby.com.  This is the sixth consecutive year bmibaby has supported BBC Children in Need and last year raised over £40,000 for the charity.  

As well as collecting via the bmibaby website, the airline is collecting on board every flight until the end of November and holding fundraising events at Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlnds and Cardiff Airport. bmibaby launched its fundraising appeal for the charity by unveiling ‘Pudsey, baby’, an aircraft covered in spots just like the famous bear’s spotty bandana.

Crawford Rix, managing director, bmibaby, said:

“We are proud to be supporting BBC Children in Need for the sixth consecutive year and we hope to raise even more money for the charity this year. 

“By adding another way for people to donate, this time via our website, we are making it quick and easy for people to show their support for the BBC Children in Need Appeal.  The new method of donating online has only been running for a couple of weeks and we have already raised over £1,600, which is a great start. We are also collecting onboard every flight until the end of November, selling Pudsey keyrings onboard and holding fundraising events at our head office and four UK bases.”