A Romanian airline has begun serving Gatwick Airport, offering fresh connections to another major European destination.
AnimaWings has started six weekly flights from the West Sussex hub.
The carrier provides business class, premium economy and economy seating and is one of eight new airlines setting up at Gatwick this year as the airport pursues broader international reach.
Commencing from Sunday (March 22), AnimaWings operates six services weekly to the Romanian capital. Departures leave from the South Terminal using Airbus A220-300 aircraft.
Jonny Macneal, head of aviation development at London Gatwick, stated the arrival brings greater variety for travellers journeying between the United Kingdom and Romania while bolstering the airport’s well-established European network.
Bucharest is gaining traction as a short-break option, recognised for its Belle Époque buildings and lively dining establishments. The city also acts as a springboard to other parts of Romania, including historic Transylvania and the Carpathian Mountains.
Marius Pandel, chief executive officer of AnimaWings, explained the commencement of the London Gatwick to Bucharest route marks a significant moment in AnimaWings’ global growth and dedication to linking Romania with important European markets.
The United Kingdom represents a key destination, with robust commercial, tourism and diaspora links, and the company is pleased to provide passengers with a fresh full-service option on this route.
Through its contemporary Airbus A220-300 fleet and multi-cabin offering, the airline intends to provide a comfortable, high-quality experience that mirrors its goal to set new benchmarks for Romanian aviation.
The carrier is also pleased to be working alongside London Gatwick and looks forward to developing a strong and lasting relationship there.
AnimaWings is not the only newcomer touching down at Gatwick this week, with budget carrier Jet2 also joining the roster.
Jet2 will commence operations with six aircraft and 29 destinations as it opens its newest base for one of Britain’s biggest airlines.
The inaugural departure from Gatwick Airport heads to Tenerife on Thursday (March 26).
Further routes encompass mainland Spain, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Malta, Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria and Cyprus.
This will be the 14th UK airport to host Jet2, generating more than 300 direct positions across flight deck, cabin crew, engineering and ground operations, along with many additional roles via the broader supply chain.
Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2, said the company is incredibly excited to be announcing its arrival at London Gatwick, which represents a major milestone in its continued success story. He noted that the company is well aware of the significant demand among customers and independent travel agents for the airline to operate its award-winning flights and holidays from the UK’s second largest airport, and it is fantastic to be able to confirm that the company has arrived and is ready to meet that demand.