EASTERN Airways is to return to Belfast City Airport to operate a connection to Teesside International.
The airport, located ten miles from Middlebrough, was last year rebranded back to the original name it held from 1966 to 2004. More recently, the airport was known as Durham Tees Valley.
Stobart Aviation, which is part of the consortium which has bought Belfast City Airport’s anchor airline, Flybe, owns 25 per cent of Teesside International. It’s also the airport’s operator.
Eastern Airways is owned by the Aberdeen-based civil helicopter operator, Bristow Group.
The airline previously operated routes for Flybe after signing a 2017 franchise partnership.
The partnership included daily flights from Belfast to London City Airport during 2018.
Eastern says it is returning to Belfast on March 9, flying six times per week from George Best Belfast City Airport to Teesside International Airport.
It will also operate services to Dublin, London City, Cardiff and Southampton from Teesside Airport. The carrier has also announced a seasonal service between Teesside and the Isle of Man and plans to increase the number of flights to Aberdeen.
Katy Best, commercial director at Belfast City Airport, said the air link will further enhance air access from Northern Ireland to the north east of England.
“Improving connectivity to and from Northern Ireland is of the utmost importance to the region and we welcome the return of Eastern Airways, a sixth airline partner at Belfast City Airport.”
Managing director of Eastern Airways, Tony Burgess, said the 37 new flights per week from Teesside International, will add 185,000 seats each year for the airline, more than doubling the number of available seats.
“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.”
Stobart Aviation’s Kate Willard added: “These major new routes are great news for the airport, its existing passengers and people across Tees Valley. It is very exciting that people can now enjoy the airport’s quick and easy passenger experience to reach even more destinations.
“We believe that there is tremendous opportunity for continued growth at Teesside International and Stobart continues to be committed to its success.”
Mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchen said the announcement of the air link to Belfast represented a boost for tourism and working links.
“We have a huge number of people in the Tees Valley with family and connections who will really benefit from this route as we make our airport succeed.”
