Wexford Festival Opera and Waterford Airport/Aer Arann Work together to welcome visitors to Wexford

May 2010

New travel partnership announced as general booking opens for the 59th Festival
As general booking opens for the 59th Wexford Festival Opera, the internationally renowned Wexford Festival Opera and Waterford Airport, in conjunction with Aer Arann, announced a new strategic partnership as the Festival’s new Official Airport partner and Official Airline respectively.

Booking for the Festival opens to the public tomorrow Tuesday June 1 and this year travelling to Wexford from the UK could be more convenient than ever as Aer Arann announces a special discount for Festival goers. Patrons are advised to book their opera and airline tickets early as demand is expected to be very high.

Aer Arann is delighted to offer Wexford Festival Opera goers 10% off the cost of their flights from London Luton, Manchester and Birmingham direct to Waterford Airport (located just 70 km from Wexford Town). When Festival Patrons arrive at Waterford Airport they will be met by a dedicated complimentary bus transfer to Wexford provided courtesy of Waterford Airport as part of this exciting new partnership.

Wexford Festival Opera attracts more international visitors than any other major Irish cultural event, being Ireland’s leading cultural destination event and contributor to cultural tourism. This new partnership is designed to make the journey to Wexford Festival Opera more convenient for their many UK visitors.

Graham Doyle, CEO, Waterford Airport, said the partnership fits well with the facility’s role as a key piece of regional transport infrastructure in the southeast. “Now preparing for its 59th year, Wexford Festival Opera is a hugely important and successful cultural and tourism event in the southeast. The tremendous work that has been done in Wexford over the decades has borne great fruit with a terrific festival that now has a multiple award-winning home that makes Wexford a great place to be in October. Waterford Airport is very pleased to facilitate visitors coming to Ireland for the festival with free bus transfers to/from Wexford. With road access having improved hugely thanks to the Waterford City Bypass and Outer Ring Road, we are now welcoming more in- and out-bound Wexford passengers than ever to Waterford Airport so this is the next natural step.”

Commenting on the recent business partnership, Chief Executive of Wexford Festival Trust, David McLoughlin said, “Our aim this year was to make the upcoming Festival more accessible and better value for money than ever before with new patron services and a 60% increase in the number of performances and events compared to last year’s Festival. A partnership with Waterford Airport in conjunction with Aer Arann is a key component in realising this ambition. As a result of the partnership, once you step off the plane in Waterford, the Airport’s courtesy bus will transfer you directly to your accommodation and will also make arrangements for your return journey. In association with Waterford Airport and Aer Arann we are delighted to launch this travel initiative for international festival patrons.”

Aer Arann Corporate Affairs Director Andrew Kelly said “We are delighted to support the Wexford Festival Opera in bringing audiences and patrons from throughout the UK to the South East. We are committed to offering our customers direct, value for money connections to the regions, and together with Waterford Airport we look forward to welcoming our Wexford Festival Opera guests on board in the near future.”

Earlier this year, Wexford Festival Opera, will run over 15 days running from Saturday, October 16th to Saturday, October 30, 2010. The 59th Festival will include 3 main operas Virginia, by Saverio Mercadante; the European Premiere of The Golden Ticket, by Peter Ash; and Bedřich Smetana’s Hubička (The Kiss). Among the other highlights will be lunchtime recitals, Gala Concert, Prague Chamber Choir Recitals and daytime Shortworks performances.

Aer Arann operate twice daily flights to London Luton, five times a week return flights to/from Manchester, four times weekly return flights to Birmingham and the 2010 summer route offers twice weekly return flights to Lorient in Brittany in France, all direct from Waterford Airport.

The airline also recently announced that it will offer an additional flight from Waterford to London Luton four days a week from May 30 bringing the service to 18 return flights per week and will increase its Waterford to Galway service to six days per week from that date also, offering even more improved connections to passengers. Book any Aer Arann flight from the UK to Waterford during the Wexford Festival Opera and you will receive a 10% discount. You have the choice of flights from London Luton, Manchester or Birmingham. Book online at www.aerarann.com/wexfordopera

General booking for the 59th Wexford Festival Opera opens on Tuesday, June 1 online at www.wexfordopera.com or telephone: Lo-call 1850-4-OPERA or (053) 912 2144. Tickets from €25. No booking fee applies.

Wexford Festival Opera – Your Destination with Waterford Airport and Aer Arann!

The 59th Wexford Festival Opera is grant aided by the Arts Council, Failte Ireland, and Wexford County & Borough Councils. This year’s production sponsors are INM plc, Zurich and the EPA.

Ready, Steady, Fly!  General Booking opens for the 59th Wexford Festival Opera.  All set to hit the ‘High-notes’ are Opera-goer, Lisa Kavanagh pictured with Graham Doyle, CEO Waterford Airport and Eamonn Carroll, Business Development Manager, Wexford Festival Opera at the announcement of a new strategic partnership with Waterford Airport and Aer Arann as the Festival’s new Official Airport Partner and Official Airline respectively.  Wexford Festival Opera runs Saturday, October 16 through Saturday, October 30, 2010.  www.wexfordopera.com  - Photograph Patrick Browne

Ready, Steady, Fly! General Booking opens for the 59th Wexford Festival Opera. All set to hit the ‘High-notes’ are Opera-goer, Lisa Kavanagh pictured with Graham Doyle, CEO Waterford Airport and Eamonn Carroll, Business Development Manager, Wexford Festival Opera at the announcement of a new strategic partnership with Waterford Airport and Aer Arann as the Festival’s new Official Airport Partner and Official Airline respectively. Wexford Festival Opera runs Saturday, October 16 through Saturday, October 30, 2010. www.wexfordopera.com - Photograph Patrick Browne