British Airways launches flights out of Cambridge Airport!

There are some phrases you never expect to be writing and that is one of them.  However, confirmation arrived yesterday that British Airways franchisee SUN-AIR of Scandinavia is launching a service to Gothenburg.  From Cambridge.

Services start on March 2nd.  Flights will only depart on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Whilst the British Airways press release says “This is expected to be a popular route amongst business travellers”, what they actually mean is “This is expected to be a popular route for employees of Astra Zeneca”.

Astra Zeneca is actually underwriting the service.  I am told that it has committed to purchase 20 tickets for every flight.

(This is not new.  I believe that some US routes operated by BA are underwritten by Glaxo and other major employers.)

According to the airport:

Flight BA8235 will depart Cambridge at 07:00 each morning and arrive 10:00 at Gothenburg’s Landvetter International Airport.  Flight BA8236 from Gothenburg will depart at 18:00 each evening, arriving in Cambridge at 19:00, Monday to Thursday. It will be serviced by fast and comfortable 32-seat Dornier 328 regional jets.

Passengers travelling with SUN-AIR through Cambridge International Airport’s newly refurbished terminal will enjoy a spacious and relaxing hotel-style departure lounge, including a Costa Coffee bar and snacks, complimentary Wi-Fi and short check-in times, as well as the VIP JETability Lounge for applicable British Airways Gold and Silver card or oneworld frequent flyers.   The airport is located only three miles from Cambridge city centre and offers on-airport car parking and good public transport access. It is also close to all major road networks, meaning regional centres such as Peterborough and Ipswich are easily reached within an hour.

Yes, there is a lounge!  It is not available via Priority Pass or Lounge Club though.

The flights are already available for booking via ba.com.  It is included in Reward Flight Saver with a return flight presumably costing 9,000 Avios and £35 in Eurotraveller.  At the time of writing yesterday afternoon, no redemption flights had yet been loaded.  No business class seems to be available.

The airport code for Cambridge is CBG if you are looking up the flights (Gothenburg is GOT).  This is another one to add to my forthcoming comprehensive guide to Avios redemptions from regional airports.

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