Blue Bird Airways Slashes Prices for Winter Flights to Crete Amidst Storm Concerns
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Blue Bird Airways has drastically cut prices for its winter flights to Crete, offering direct routes from Tel Aviv for as low as 65 euros one-way. The Greek airline, owned by Holiday Lines Group, is promoting weekend packages in 5-star hotels starting at 299 euros per person. This initiative aims to make tourism a year-round activity, despite recent severe storms on Crete that caused widespread flooding and damage, highlighting the need for travelers to prepare for unpredictable weather.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Blue Bird Airways is offering winter flights to Crete from Tel Aviv for as low as 65 euros one-way.
- The airline is also promoting weekend packages in 5-star hotels starting at 299 euros per person.
- This move signifies a dramatic price reduction compared to summer flight prices.
- The initiative aims to establish year-round tourism to Greek islands from Israel.
- Crete recently experienced severe storms causing flooding and damage, impacting tourists.
- Travelers are advised to prepare for potentially hazardous and unpredictable winter weather on the island.
Blue Bird Airways, a Greek airline owned by the Holiday Lines Group, is undergoing a significant strategic shift, expanding its direct winter flight offerings from Tel Aviv to Crete. This move represents a dramatic price reduction compared to the summer season's launch prices and signals a new era for year-round direct flights from Israel to Greek islands.
In May, the airline launched summer flights to Chania, Crete, starting at 122 euros one-way, with flights to Kos at 128 euros and Bourgas at 111 euros. However, a current October deal offers flights to Heraklion, Crete, for as low as 65 euros one-way. The promotion also includes "weekend" packages in 5-star hotels starting from 299 euros per person, catering to both Israeli tourists and the local Israeli community.
Marketing Director Ilan Shalev stated that tourism has become a 12-month-a-year activity. This initiative comes despite challenging weather conditions on the island. In early October, Crete experienced severe storms with heavy rainfall, widespread flooding, and road closures, impacting Israelis on holiday. The storms caused significant damage to infrastructure and homes, with emergency services receiving numerous distress calls. Tragically, an 81-year-old farmer from the Rethymno area was swept away and died in the floods.
The Greek Meteorological Service has issued warnings of dangerous weather conditions on Crete, with continuous heavy rainfall increasing the risk of flooding and soil saturation. While the system is expected to weaken later in the week, rain is forecast to continue in the Heraklion and Dodecanese regions. This serves as a crucial reminder for Israeli travelers that winter holidays in Crete require careful preparation, appropriate clothing, and close monitoring of local weather forecasts to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.
Mentioned
