SUNSEEKERS will be able to fly from Oxfordshire to Mallorca this summer following the launch of a new service.

A 50-seat aircraft will fly once a week from Oxford Airport, in Kidlington, from mid-June to the end of September.

The new route to the Balearic island will be run jointly by the airport and the Witney-based Great Experience Travel Group. Prices are expected to start at about £395 return per person.

Airport business development manager James Dillon-Godfray said: “We’re thrilled to add this new service in partnership with Great Experience Travel.

“We are certain it will be very popular and the feedback from suppliers in Mallorca has been terrific.

“This means we are able to offer some great and varied deals this summer which will suit a range of budgets.”

Departures will leave the Langford Lane airport at 9.30am and arrive at Mallorca’s capital, Palma, by 1.15pm.

Planes will leave the island at 2.15pm and arrive in Oxford at 4pm.

David Gambier, managing director of Great Experience Travel Group, said: “We are delighted to be introducing this beautiful Mediterranean summer destination, direct from Oxford Airport.

“There are no longer any scheduled flights to Palma from London Heathrow so this offering will be especially attractive for travellers from the Thames Valley.

“We are working with a renowned local ground agent to create some wonderful summer experiences.”

He said the airport is “hassle-free” as it is mostly used by private flights Mr Gambier added: “If you compare these flights with a budget airline flying from Birmingham in the middle of the night, we obviously can’t match that.

“But we fly at reasonable hours and if you add up the cost of travelling to other airports, parking and food on your flight, we are quite reasonable.

“Plus there will only ever be 44 people on board, with plenty of space and leather seats.”

Last March Swiss carrier Baboo announced it was recommencing weekly Saturday flights to Geneva from December to Easter 2011 but these never began.

In February 2010, 23-year-old entrepreneur Martin Halstead, dubbed ‘Baby Branson’, launched Varsity Express, which offered daily flights between Oxford and Edinburgh.

But the service was grounded after just a week, leaving passengers and a pilot stranded in the Scottish capital.

Thames Valley Police launched an investigation into alleged “fraudulent activities”, but dropped the enquiry in the summer.

Mr Halstead always vigorously denied his firm did anything wrong.

The new flights will be available from Monday at Great Experience Travel, in Waterloo Walk, Witney, on 08451 222640 or at by logging on at oxfordairporttravel.co.uk They will also be offered by independent travel agents, but not from chains like Thomas Cook.