Airlines have Georgia on their minds

Georgia is a potential new travel hot spot from London.

The Georgian capital Tbilisi is to get two new direct air links from the UK with British Airways and and budget carrier easyJet both announcing new flights this week.

BA will launch flights from London Heathrow to Tbilisi four times per week from March 30 next year.

It will offer a two-class service on each flight with Club Europe (business class) and Euro Traveller (economy), news hub Travel Mole reports.

“We’re delighted to welcome Tbilisi flights back into our route network, after our last scheduled service in 2013,” said Neil Chernoff, BA's chief planning and strategy officer.

“We expect this to be a popular route with the leisure market, which has seen a strong comeback since 2019, as well as with those looking to enjoy direct flights to visit friends and family.”

Georgia is known for its rich history, culture, and picturesque scenery and has an 8,000-year-old history of winemaking.

Tbilisi is located on the banks of the Mtkvari River and tourism highlights include canyons and caves near Kutaisi and multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites are nearby. One of Europe’s oldest capitals, Tbilisi has been the cultural, political, and economic centre of Georgia for 15 centuries. 

At the heart of the city lies historic Old Tbilisi, which was built during the early Middle Ages.

Mariam Kvrivishvili, deputy minister at the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, said: “We are proud that British Airways has decided to enter the Georgian market, which is important recognition for our country.”

easyJet, meanwhile, announced it will launch Tbilisi flights for the very first time with a new route from London Luton.

The inaugural flight will take off on April 1, 2025, and will operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout the summer season.

The airline has also launched new routes to Tbilisi from Geneva and Milan Malpensa.

Image: Georgia Travel

Prankster punks puzzled passengers

It is an old stunt - but a good one.

Passengers flying into London’s Gatwick are being perplexed by a huge sign near the runway - clearly visible from the air - that says: “Welcome to Luton”. 

The large, white lettering seen in a field is a work by Youtuber Max Fosh, Travel Mole reports. 

Luton is another airport in the London region but it is about 100km away from Gatwick. On the other side of the city.

Reminds me of the in-flight announcement on my Jetstar flight from Melbourne last Friday. 

“Welcome to your flight to Sydney,” passengers were told. Which prompted guffaws as we were heading to Hobart. 

The Gatwick prank is not the first.

A ‘Welcome to Perth’ rooftop sign was once placed near Sydney Airport and a ‘Welcome to Cleveland’ sign was once familiar to those flying into Milwaukee.

New direct rail link between Luton Airport and London

A new train route connecting Luton Airport and central London is to launch this northern hemisphere summer, taking just 30 minutes to get passengers to the terminal.

This is good news for travellers flying with low-cost carriers, with the airport operating flights with Ryanair, EasyJet and Wizz Air, Travel Mole reports.

Taking a London airport taxi from Luton airport to the downtown area of London is currently the most convenient transfer option. The ride costs approximately 80€ (£70) and takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes

Trains do not currently run from Luton airport to the centre of London. To reach the train, you will first have to take a 10-minute shuttle bus from the terminal to Luton Airport Parkway - inconvenient for those with luggage.

The new route - set to open from May - will be a faster, non-stop option. It will run between 6am and 10pm every half an hour on weekdays. It will also link with Corby in Northamptonshire

Eeast Midland Railways managing director Will Rogers said that the new route will offer "more seats, quicker journeys and a simpler and more resilient timetable".

Other London airports already have fast routes, include the Gatwick Express, Stansted Express and the Heathrow Express.