This Is Tees Valley This Is Tees Valley - Issue 1 2020 | Page 50

CAPITAL
Direct flights to London
return to Teesside
GAINS
T
ees Valley mayor Ben Houchen
heralded a new dawn for Teesside
International Airport with the
return of daily flights to London,
reconnecting Teesside, Darlington and
Hartlepool to the capital by air for the first
time in 11 years.
The flights to London City Airport are
part of a package of six new destinations
across the UK and Ireland that take off from
Teesside International Airport in 2020.
In a huge vote of confidence in the
airport’s future, Eastern Airways, which
currently operates the Aberdeen service
from the airport, increased its commitment
by adding five new daily routes as well as a
seasonal service and an increased number of
Aberdeen flights.
The new routes rolled out in February and,
after almost a decade, will see the return of
flights to Dublin.
There will be daily direct connections
to Belfast City Airport, Cardiff and
Southampton, while passengers can also fly
to the Isle of Man on a seasonal service from
May.
The new programme, which includes 37
new flights per week, will add 185,000 seats
each year, more than doubling the number of
available seats.
To help ensure reliability, an engineering
base will be created at the airport to serve
the aircraft operating the new Eastern
Airways routes.
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen with
Eastern Airways managing director
Tony Burgess.
Mayor Houchen said: “Ever since we
brought the airport back into public
ownership, one of the biggest and most
frequent questions we’ve been asked from
businesses and local people has been when
will direct flights to London return.
“For too long, we’ve lacked this most basic
connection, which is why I’m delighted to
announce the new services, which will bring
the Tees Valley even closer to the capital with
a twice-daily service.
"For too long, we’ve lacked
this most basic connection,
which is why I’m delighted to
announce the new services."
“Our airport is hugely important to our
local economy and the investment that will
create the good quality, well-paid jobs we all
want to see come to Teesside, Darlington and
Hartlepool won’t come on a bus, it will come
via our airport terminal.
“That’s on top of the raft of other fantastic
flights, which represent a massive vote of
confidence in our airport and region. Eastern
Airways shares our vision for fantastic
transport connections and has worked with
the airport for years. They really understand
exactly what our local people and businesses
will love.
“This isn’t job done, this is the next stage in
our ten-year rescue plan to secure the future
of Teesside International.
“In fact, it’s only the first phase of Eastern’s
multi-year commitment, with plenty of
opportunity to expand and increase flights in
the future.”
Eastern Airways managing director Tony
Burgess said: “Eastern Airways is one of the
longest-serving airlines to fly from Teesside
International, serving the critical corporate oil
and gas market with flights to Aberdeen.
“We’re delighted to now be strengthening
our ties with the airport and branching out to
bring enhanced connectivity to some new city
destinations for business and leisure travellers.
“I’m sure these flights will be popular and
we are continuing to look at how we can
further develop our network for all regions.”
Teesside International Airport continues to
serve more than 200 worldwide destinations
via its daily services to the award-winning
Amsterdam Schiphol airport, holiday trips to
Majorca with JetsGo Holidays and a second
summer season to Bulgaria with Balkan
Holidays.