Freebird’s first scheduled Gatwick flights to Antalya and Bodrum took off last week. The Turkish carrier had planned to launch the routes in summer 2020, only for Covid to intervene.

Now, after its Manchester operation to Antalya got under way earlier this month, its Gatwick schedule is also up and running. Freebird said the easing of Covid travel restrictions and the availability of slots at Gatwick had allowed it to get its plans back on track.

It will operate four times a week to Antalya this summer on Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and twice a week to Bodrum on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Osman Kinali, Freebird contracts manager, said "much preparation" had gone into the launch of both Freebird’s Gatwick and Manchester services, with the airline laying on dedicated staff to support the customer experience during "a challenging time" for airports.

Gatwick’s airline business development manager, David Bell, said he was confident Freebird’s Antalya flights, in particular, would be "incredibly popular" with families, couples and bigger groups looking to get away this summer after several Covid-disrupted summers.

Carl Denton, Freebird’s head of UK sales, added: "We are working hard to support UK travel businesses to offer the seat-only content that builds the holidays they wish to offer to their customers. Our goal is to support and work closely with these trade partners and welcome those not currently working with us, to join us in our journey."