Where to Ski And Snowboard - PowdAir to fly from UK regions to Sion

PowdAir to fly from UK regions to Sion

20th February 2017, by Abi Butcher

PowdAir will fly skiers from UK regional airports directly into Sion in the Swiss Valais

A new airline specifically for skiers and snowboarders will begin flying to Sion Airport in Switzerland from regional airports in the UK later this year.

PowdAir will fly five times a week to Sion from Southend, Southampton, Bournemouth, Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh, significantly reducing transfer times to popular ski resorts in Valais including Verbier, Zermatt and Zinal in Val d’Anniviers.

Seats will cost between £99 and £150 one-way, including ski carriage and PowdAir will also fly from Rotterdam.

“We are currently in talks with local tour operators and resorts to put in place infrastructure for skiers’ onward travel from Sion,” said a spokesman for PowdAir. “When skiers get to Sion there needs to be an efficient way of getting to resort rather than a taxi.”

The flights will reduce dramatically the transfer times for British skiers heading to Valaisan resorts. Zermatt is currently 3hr 45min by train from Geneva airport or 2hr 45min by car, and 3hr 35min from Zurich — 4hr 15min by car. From Sion it is 1hr and 40 minutes. Meanwhile Sion to Verbier is a mere 45-minute drive as opposed two or three hours from Geneva, with one-way trips on a shared shuttle from £50 upwards. Nendaz, Veysonnaz and Siviez are all even closer.

Daniel Luggen from the Zermatt Tourist Office added: “If it becomes reality, the new flights will open new chances to develop the UK market. Travel time, comfort and convenience are nowadays a key factor when choosing the holiday destination. Zermatt has a long history with British guest so the direct flights could write a new chapter in this success story.”

SWISS International Airlines is operating three flights from London Heathrow into Sion Airport over half term this month, a service it says has been well received. When the route was announced late last year, SWISS said it planned to operate regularly throughout the 2017/18 season but last week would not confirm its plans.

Due to the surrounding mountains, valley and often inclement weather the pilots flying into Sion must have Category C training — similar to those who fly in to Innsbruck in Austria.

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