Dart Group PLC News

09th December 2011

• Twice weekly flights on Thursday and Sundays from £31.99
• City break packages from £249 per person
• 41^stJet2.com route for the region

Leeds based Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have today announced an exciting new city break destination direct from Leeds Bradford Airport – the fabulous city of Budapest.

Flights will commence on 29th March 2012, twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays, at the recession busting price of £31.99 one way including taxes.  ATOL protected package holidays start from £249 per person for three nights, and can be secured now for just £60 deposit at www.jet2holidays.com .

The new destination is Jet2.com’s 15^th city destination from Leeds Bradford and has been added following strong demand from the airline’s local customer base. The announcement follows the success of Jet2.com’s flights and holidays to Budapest from both Manchester and Edinburgh.

The route has been launched to coincide with one of the biggest Christmas shopping weekends, providing Yorkshire holidaymakers with a great alternative gift idea for their loved ones – much more exciting than bathroom smellies for her or yet more socks for him!

Steve Heapy, Chief Commercial Officer of Jet2.com and Managing Director of Jet2holidays, said:  “We are pleased to be able to offer the people of Yorkshire yet another fantastic city break destination from Jet2.comand Jet2holidays, direct from their local airport. Based on our experience of Budapest flights from Manchester and Edinburgh we anticipate that the route will also be popular with inbound tourists seeking to explore all that Yorkshire has to offer – therefore providing a welcome boost to the regional economy. ”

Tony Hallwood, Leeds Bradford Airport Commercial Director, said: “We are delighted Jet2.com has introduced a twice weekly service from LBA to Budapest. This beautiful European city is a perfect destination for a cultural break or relaxing long weekend away. I'm sure it will prove popular with both leisure and business passengers.”

As the capital city of Hungary, Budapest is regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, popular for its balance of new with old. The city is split by the River Danube in to the Buda and Pest sides and is straddled by the magnificent Chain Bridge. An extensive World Heritage Site, the city is full of baroque-style architecture including the 700 year old Royal Palace as well as The House of Parliament which is a stunning building stretching 268 metres alongside the River Danube and home to the country’s crown jewels. St Stephen’s Basilica and Heroes Square are also great ways to take in the city’s culture and history whilst Váci street, which runs along the Danube promenade, is an elegant shopping street offering a mixture of restaurants, bank offices, cafés and bookshops. For those looking for a more relaxing and cleansing experience, there are a number of traditional thermal spas to experience across the city whose healing waters have been known to cure a range of rheumatic diseases.

Some key events in Budapest’s calendar are:

• The Budapest Spring Festival, which takes place during the last two weeks of March.  The annual event has been held since 1981 with a diverse programme including a mixture of classical and jazz concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and other open-air events. 
• From 23^rd June to 12^th August, Summer on Chain Bridge takes place. The event sees the Chain Bridge, one of Budapest’s most important symbols, closed for vehicle traffic, giving way to pedestrians, bikers and families. The best Hungarian artists and craftsmen offer their goods to Hungarians and tourists alike.
• From 6^th to 13^th August, Sziget, one of the largest music and cultural festivals in Europe, will take place on Óbudai Island in Budapest.  In 2011 it played host to Pulp and Dizzee Rascal, amongst many others. 
• The Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest is provisionally scheduled to take place on 29^th July.

Jet2.holidays Example Package:

Three nights at the lovely centrally located, 3-star plus King’s Budapest City on bed and breakfast basis, including 10kg hand luggage, costs from £249 per person, based on two people sharing.   All rooms at King’s Hotel are on suite and are conveniently equipped with LCD TV, complimentary high speed internet access, phone, safe box, air conditioning and mini fridge.

Jet2.com’s flight times are scheduled as follows:

Thursday

Leeds Bradford - Budapest 08:30 arriving 12:30

Budapest - Leeds Bradford 13:05 arriving 15:05

Sunday

Leeds Bradford - Budapest  15:30 arriving 19:30

Budapest - Leeds Bradford 20:05 arriving 22:05

To book flights visit www.Jet2.com and to book city break holidays visit www.Jet2holidays.com