Small UK airport welcomes new flights to one of the world’s most livable cities
KLM is launching a new route between Exeter Airport and Amsterdam, with flights to start operating at the end of March.
It will be the first time the two cities have been linked by a direct service since 2019.
Flights between the two destinations will take 90 minutes.
Outbound flights will leave Amsterdam at 4.15pm before touching down in the UK at 4.50pm.
Services will then depart Exeter Airport at 5.20pm, touching down in the Dutch capital at 7.50pm local time.
Sun Online Travel have found one-way fares from £115 per person.
The daily service will be operated by KLM Cityhopper, using an 88-seat Embraer 175 regional jet aircraft.
Air-France-KLM UK and Ireland general manager, Jerome Salemi, said: “We are very excited to launch Exeter as KLM’s 18th departure point from the UK to Amsterdam and beyond.
“We hope our new services will contribute towards the economic, touristic, and cultural development of the region and the local community.
“We look forward to working with Exeter airport on making this route a success.”
Exeter Airport managing director, Stephen Wiltshire, described the new route as a “tremendous boost for regional connectivity”.
Despite being a small airport, Exeter has seen passenger numbers increase by 5 per cent in recent months.
Holidaymakers in southwest England will now be able to fly directly to Amsterdam, which is often hailed as one of the most liveable cities on the planet.
Earlier this year, Amsterdam was named the 19th best city to live in by a report from the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Meanwhile, back in 2022, Amsterdam was also ranked the 9th best city to live in the world.
The Dutch capital has plenty to keep holidaymakers entertained, including world-class museums like the Anne Frank Museum and the Van Gogh Museum.
Tickets for these museums should be booked around a month in advance online.
Holidaymakers can also buy I Amsterdam card (around £53 for 24 hours at tiqets.com), which gives visitors entry to all the top attractions as well as free access to public transport.
If you can’t get tickets for the Van Gogh and Anne Frank museums, Amsterdam is filled with other popular attractions like the Ice Bar, Madame Tussauds, Moco Museum and the A’dam Lookout.
At the A’dam Lookout, brave holidaymakers can rock on a giant swing on the roof of a 20-story building.
Grab a traditional bitterballen — a meaty, fried and breadcrumb-coated bar snack adored by the Dutch — for a bite to eat.
What is it like to visit Amsterdam?
Deputy travel editor Kara Godfrey visited Amsterdam earlier this year, here’s what she thought about the Dutch capital…
On my previous visit to Amsterdam 13 years ago, I was a budget backpacker trying to tick off all the key sights with very little money.
This time, I found myself exploring the trendy Dutch city while sticking to the northern district, an area that sits somewhat off the well-trodden tourist track and the winding, central canals.
Amsterdam is easy enough to reach, especially when travelling by Eurostar from the UK, which takes you straight to the heart of the city.
Rather than heading for the centre, I ventured in the other direction, joining the many cyclists and rollerskaters for the quick, and free, ferry ride across the river.
This is Amsterdam-Noord, a region dubbed the Brooklyn of Amsterdam—and it’s not hard to see why.
The former shipyard warehouses here have been turned into hip restaurants and museums, covered in murals and political art.
Almost every surface has been graffitied with spray paint, while the alleyways are filled with groups of breakdancers and children playing basketball.
It’s not just the looks that remind you of a New York City neighbourhood, the thriving food and drink scene does too.
My first port of call was the trendy Next restaurant overlooking the harbour.
The chatty bartender made my cocktail dreams a reality by serving me a personal creation — a mix of mango, strawberry, rhubarb, vodka and egg white — a “spin on the porn star martini”.
He told me, over the sound of the live DJ: “Noord is going to be the new metropolitan centre of Amsterdam in the next ten years. The bar scene is crazy here.”
Trying out their small-plate menu, I couldn’t pick a favourite between the short ribs, cooked slowly for 15 hours, and the crispy French toast overloaded with Iberian ham and caramelised shallots.
The Low-cost airline easyJet is launching a new route between London Gatwick and Rimini, with flights to start operating in April.
Meanwhile, Jet2 is poised to launch a new base at London Luton Airport.