A NEW service has been launched to cater for islanders wanting to fly to the UK and drive their own car when they get there. The transport logistics company called Ship & Fly works on the basis that travellers take a quick flight to Southampton and when they arrive, their car will be there waiting.

‘The company’s slogan ﾓStep out of the front door of Southampton Airport and into your own carﾔ just about says it all,’ said pilot and company director Max Carling.

‘There are all kinds of advantages.’

Potential travellers can book direct with the transport logistics company, via the Internet or through Island International Travel. They need to drop their car off at St Peter Port or St Helier docks and fly out the next day with Flybe to Southampton. The car will be transported in a goods vehicle and parked in a pre-allocated space.

‘It means no more humping bags through the departures hall at the airport, no more weight restrictions and no more waiting for baggage at the other end, and about 300 miles of driving using Guernsey fuel, at cheaper prices,’ said Mr Carling.

‘Passengers can simply walk through the Southampton terminal and collect their keys from the representative at the short-stay parking office.’

He said that all the services the company was using have had many years’ experience in their respective fields, but the key ingredient was the car transporter in the UK that was shuttling the vehicles between Portsmouth and Southampton Airport.

Prices are similar to that of the fast ferry and the service will be operating 364 days a year. There are already plans to include Gatwick, Bristol and East Midlands Airports.

Island International Travel managing director Mike Quittenden said the company was keen to see the new service introduced.

‘We’re excited by the potential of this new service, which will be popular, particularly in the winter months when sea travel can be uncomfortable.’

Mike Taylor, operations manager for Meteor, which controls the secure short-stay car park at Southampton Airport, said: ‘With pre-allocated spaces making finding your car so simple and our unrivalled standards of security excellence, taking your car to the UK has never been easier or more secure. We’re sure Ship & Fly will be a great success.’

The airport has recently won the secure parking award issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

* Further details are available from Ship & Fly on 251840, Island International Travel on 711171 or by visiting www.shipandfly.com, which has links to route planners and hotels.