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Train firm throws travel lifeline to grounded air passengers

27 Apr 2009

Thousands of free First Class rail tickets draw customers back to the track 

Train operator National Express East Coast is throwing a travel lifeline to air passengers left grounded when an airline scrapped its direct flights between Durham Tees Valley and Leeds Bradford Airports and London.

The decision by airline BMI to cancel all flights from both the regional airports to the capital means business travellers can choose between long hours of congested motorway driving – or relax in comfort on board fast and direct trains.

For a limited period, travellers who used the flights from either airport – or from Newcastle – to or from London can take advantage of a great deal which includes an introductory six months free membership of National Express East Coast’s loyalty scheme ‘escape’:

Key benefits of the scheme include:
• a free First Class leisure return for two
• extra discounted First and Standard Advance travel throughout the year
• exclusive food and drink offers
• unlimited access to First Class Lounges along the East Coast route
• discounts on selected hotels and restaurants.

To qualify, customers only need to have a boarding card stub, eTicket or email booking confirmation of a single or return flight between London airports and either Leeds Bradford, Durham Tees Valley or Newcastle, for flight dates between March 2 and June 12, 2009. The London airports included are: Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and London City.

National Express East Coast sales and marketing director Rachel Dawson said: “We know many business travellers in particular were unhappy at the decision to cancel direct flights between Durham Tees Valley or Leeds Bradford airports and London.

“The train offers space to work or relax, including complimentary wireless internet – and you can use your mobile phone on the move. We go city centre to centre, with no airport check-in delays, and our trains are a much greener option than flying or driving.

“We think this exciting offer will put the air smiles back on the faces of travellers throughout Yorkshire and the North East.”