In February 2013, Airline bmi regional announced the launch of three new European routes from Bristol Airport with flights from Bristol to Munich, Milan and Hannover.
Bristol Hannover Council greatly welcomes the new direct flight connection to Hannover.
Please see below for a statement from BHC written by our longest serving member Dr John Veale.
“Bristol-Hannover Council rejoices in the prospect of an air-link between Bristol and Hannover, and congratulates bmi on their initiative. Bristol-Hannover Council was founded in 1947. Since then many thousands of Bristolians have travelled to Hannover, a city then of ruins, of necessity by circuitous routes and using different forms of transport. There they have always been enthusiastically welcomed, and in the same way many thousands of Hannoverians have visited Bristol. Since the early days there have been regular exchanges of schoolchildren, students, trades unionists, choirs, theatre groups, sporting groups, youth and church groups. These continue to flourish. Without a direct air link they have all taken place with inconvenient and not easy travel arrangements and at considerable cost.
The facility of a direct air-link will be of the greatest convenience to those many English and German groups and to the many families and individuals in the West Country who enjoy visiting Hannover and its surrounding area of great beauty and interest, and to those from Lower Saxony, the second largest German state, for whom the West Country is a particular attraction. It is particularly fitting that we in Bristol have a direct link with Hannover, from which our Royal Family came in 1714 in the person of King George I, when the two countries were united under the same crown with their successors in the Personal Union, something which is still today highly valued and celebrated in Hannover.
Bristol-Hannover Council believes that the appointment of a voluntary Bristol-Hannover tourist officer would be highly advantageous, to inform the tourist officers in Bristol and Hannover of the new air-link and its many benefits, and to encourage the promotion of new tourist and commercial links between the two cities, particularly supporting the many international Trade Fairs which are held in Hannover.
Bristol-Hannover Council has an exchange of citizens every year – this year a group will come from Hannover, in 2014, the year of the 300th anniversary of the accession of the Hannoverian George I to the English throne, a group of Bristolians will visit Hannover, where great celebrations are planned. We also celebrate in Bristol, usually in February, ‘Rosenmontag’ or Fasching, perhaps more widely known as Mardi Gras, we support the German Christmas Market, we meet for an Annual Dinner and on less formal occasions socially and to watch German films. We publish a newsletter HEUTE with our events and news, and more information can be found on our website at bristolhannovercouncil.org.uk.”