Three new routes to key European cities are to be introduced from Bristol Airport as it continues to expand its network on the Continent.
The flights to Paris, Düsseldorf and Nantes will be operated by bmi regional. The move comes as Ryanair prepares to add direct flights to cities such as Cologne and Stuttgart as part of its expansion at Bristol Airport. 
Germany is a major growth area for the airport – with cities there among those most requested by West of England businesses when new short-haul routes are being considered. At present direct flights from Bristol go to Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt.
bmi regional launches the Paris and Düsseldorf services on April 27 with Nantes flights starting on July 4, and operating throughout the summer months. Tickets went on sale this week.
The three new routes take the airline’s routes from Bristol to eight alongside Aberdeen, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt and Milan.
The Paris service puts bmi regional in competition with easyJet, which has a once-a-day service. Air France had previously operated a service on the route.
Nantes is a new destination from Bristol – flights will operate twice a week on Tuesday and Saturday. Like Bristol, the French city is an important centre for the aerospace industry and home to a major Airbus plant, while as the gateway to the Loire region it is a popular tourist destination.
Direct flights to Düsseldorf were previously operated from Bristol by Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus but bmi regional’s service brings back the route to the airport’s network.
The Paris and Düsseldorf flights and the Saturday service to Nantes will be operated by a bmi regional 49-seater Embraer 145 jet, with the Tuesday flight to Nantes operated by a 37 seater Embraer 135.
Bristol Airport chief executive officer Robert Sinclair said: “These new flights will strengthen links to key markets in France and Germany for business and leisure passengers in the South West.
“Building on bmi regional’s existing services, these new destinations further enhance the airline’s growing base at Bristol Airport.
“Direct flights to European cities such as Paris, Düsseldorf and Nantes provide passengers with a convenient local alternative to the London airports, saving them time and money in the process, and bmi regional’s reputation for reliability and service will make this option even more attractive.
“The double-daily weekday service to the French capital’s major airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle, adds capacity to another major global hub and makes a same day return possible for business passengers.”
bmi regional CEO Cathal O’Connell added: “Bristol is already a substantial hub for the airline, allowing us to service some of Europe’s most exciting business and leisure destinations.
“Flying twice a day to Paris means that business travellers can now have a full day of business in the French capital, rather than having to overnight. Düsseldorf is the centre of the Rhine-Ruhr and an international business and financial centre, renowned for its fashion and trade fairs, and bmi regional the only airline to connect businesses in the South West directly to the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia.
“Nantes is the perfect place for a weekend break, or a holiday among the world famous vineyards and chateaux.”
The new routes have been welcomed by business groups. James Durie, executive director of Bristol Chamber of Commerce at Business West, said: “Adding these three new bmi regional routes from Bristol Airport gives business across our region and beyond better connections to two of our most important trade markets.
“In the South West, we have 5,000 companies who are interested in or already exporting to France and Germany and Bristol Airport also serves businesses from areas beyond such as South Wales. With Bristol as 2015 European Green Capital, the international spotlight is increasingly on us and we very much welcome this investment by bmi regional giving us links to these European cities.
“These new links will help stimulate our visitor economy and other investment into Bristol and the South West.”
Bristol-Paris flights will operate six days a week with two flights a day Monday to Friday, and one flight on Sunday. Flights will depart Bristol at 07.20 and 13:50 five days a week, and 19:10 on Sunday. The return flight from Paris will be at 11:20 and 16:40 Monday to Friday and at 21:55 on Sunday, arriving back in Bristol at 22:10.
Bristol-Düsseldorf will operate six times a week, Sunday to Friday, departing Bristol at 17:25 Monday to Friday, and arriving in Düsseldorf at 19:50. The return flight will depart at 20:20 from Düsseldorf to Bristol, arriving back in Bristol at 20:55. On Sundays, the flight will depart Bristol at 15:00, arriving in Düsseldorf at 17:25. The Sunday return flight will depart Düsseldorf at 17:55, arriving back in Bristol at 18:30.
Bristol – Nantes will operate twice per week on Tuesday and Saturday departing Bristol on Tuesdays at 12:20, and arriving in Nantes at 14:30. The return flight will depart Nantes at 15:00, arriving back in Bristol at 15:10. On Saturdays, the flight will depart Bristol at 15:30, arriving in Nantes at 17:40. The Saturday return flight will depart Nantes at 18:10, arriving back in Bristol at 18:20. The first Nantes flight takes place on 4 July 2015, with the final flight on 12 September.
Fares from Bristol to Paris start at £69 one way, including all taxes. Fares to Düsseldorf and Nantes from Bristol start from £79 one way, including all taxes.
