Andalus Airlines - Gibraltar to Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao

Andalus Airlines have updated their website to include Gibraltar's North Front Airport.

When selected it offers routings:

• Gibraltar > Madrid Barajas
• Gibraltar > Barcelona
  
• Gibraltar > Bilbao Loiu

While no flights appear to have been loaded into the system yet and so are not able to be booked, the currency options now include Sterling (Libra Esterlina) alongside Euros and Moroccan Dirhams.

Gibraltar has been without a link to Madrid following Iberias decision to cancel its once daily (and finally only twice weekly) using an Airbus A319 citing load factors.

Widespread belief is that their is a far greater business market for a twice daily service than once daily, and that even once daily would be viable using a smaller aircraft.

Andalus is a newly established operator based in Malaga airport offering flights to varius airports in Spain, Moroco (and now Gibraltar) airports using an Embraer ERJ145 regional jet which can be configured for around 50 seats.

Monarch restores Manchester - Gibraltar flights, BA flight times change.

Monarch Airlines have reintroduced their service between Manchester Airport and Gibraltar.

Despite reports of very good loads, the route was suspended 2 years ago by Monarch in protest over the higher than typical landing charges at Gibraltar Airport. Landing charges were at the time set by the MOD who operate the airport as RAF Gibraltar.

The reintroduction of Manchester flights follows a deal struct between the Government of Gibraltar and the MoD whereby the Government would contribute to the costs of the airport but would be able to reduce charges.

Flight times:

Depart MAN 0715, Arrive GIB 1115
Depart GIB 1200, Arrive MAN 1400

It will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12th September.

[Monday services operate 20 minutes earlier at 0655 and 1140.]

Interestingly it is currently planned to be operated as a simple out-and-back service, previously it operated as a W pattern from Manchester to Gibraltar and back with Luton Airport in the middle.

British Airways schedule change for winter:

Due to BAs currently highly stretched fleet as they try to cover a GB Airways sized hole in their operation (following easyJet's purchase of the local owned franchise operator) British Airways has been limited to just one daily service from London, departing in the morning.

From Sunday the 26th October, it will switch to the afternoon:

Depart LGW 1330, Arrive GIB 1720
Depart GIB 1800, Arrive LGW 1950

Reflecting heavy fleet commitment it had earlier looked like the morning service might have to go red-eye for winter with a circa ~6am departure.

However the fears were not justified as BA have manged to rearrange their schedule to support the lucrative premium traffic on the route

(The Real) Operation Felix: Hitler's Plan to capture Gibraltar - by Joe Garcia

The title of this post has been prefixed with 'the real' because - utterly by chance - Operation Felix was referenced in the title of the unrelated previous post).

Operation Felix: Hitler's Plan to capture Gibraltar
by Joe Garcia
New and enlarged edition, 2008
Panorama Publications, Gibraltar




This new expanded edition of Joe Garcia's study of Operation Felix has just been published.

Not only have a lot of new archive documents been released since the original publication but also new finds in Gibraltar have been made. When this text was last edited, Stay Behind Cave - the plan to entomb a contingent of British soldiers in the event of a successful German invasion - had not yet been rediscovered.

The book focuses heavily on the logistical concerns faced by the Germans during their planning and the need to plan for an attack both with and without open support from 'officially neutral' facist Spain under General Franco.

Some knowledge of the local area and the surrounding countryside in Spain is certainly required though to really follow the events - a map would certainly not have gone amiss - if the book is to be enjoyed by a wider audience. Also the rate of change and redevelopment in Gibraltar itself needs to be factored in, particularly if you've not seen photographs of Gibraltar before the post war reclamation. The actual detail of the Gibraltar wartime story is rather underknow further affeild and I couldn't help thinking someone should repackage this excellent study for a wider audience.

However if you do have some background knowledge or can sufficiently pick things up as you go, it is a facinating read. [Not least for obvious land transport 'issues' that have continued to face Spain until almost this day.]

The book is priced at £9 and has a slightly larger print of text that would suitable for both advancing and younger eyes.

Book link on Panorama website.