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Eastern Airways launches two new routes to Gibraltar

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Eastern Airways is primarily known for its UK domestic routes, so it was a surprise to see it launch two new routes to Gibraltar.

Even more surprising is where the flights are going from:

  • Southampton to Gibraltar will launch on 24th May
  • Birmingham to Gibraltar will launch on 28th May

There will be two flights per week on each route. It will be operated with an Embraer 190, which is the same aircraft that British Airways uses from London City Airport. Eastern acquired three E190 aircraft last Summer.

Wizz Air launched a Gibraltar route from Luton last year, and British Airways and easyJet also serve it.

Eastern is not part of any airline alliance or reward scheme so there is no option for booking these services with points.


best credit card to use when buying flights

How to maximise your miles when paying for flights (April 2025)

Some UK credit cards offer special bonuses when used for buying flights. If you spend a lot on airline tickets, using one of these cards could sharply increase the credit card points you earn.

Booking flights on any airline?

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold earns double points (2 Membership Rewards points per £1) when used to buy flights directly from an airline website.

The card comes with a sign-up bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points. These would convert to 20,000 Avios or various other airline or hotel programmes. The standard earning rate is 1 point per £1.

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American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

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Buying flights on British Airways?

The British Airways Premium Plus American Express card earns double Avios (3 Avios per £1) when used at ba.com.

The card comes with a sign-up bonus of 30,000 Avios. The standard earning rate is 1.5 Avios per £1.

You do not earn bonus Avios if you pay for BA flights on the free British Airways American Express card or either of the Barclaycard Avios Mastercards.

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Buying flights on Virgin Atlantic?

Both the free Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard and the annual fee Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard earn double Virgin Points when used at fly.virgin.com.

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Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

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