Open two new routes

New service to Northern Ireland and capital move

DUNDEE Airport received a huge boost after it was revealed a new air link to Belfast will be established in the new year, as well as a direct route to London City Airport.

The new service from Loganair will operate up to six times a week i n the summer season between Belfast City Airport and Dundee Airport.

The route will launch on April 2 2020, with a lead-in fare of £44.99 one way.

It will operate three times each week during the winter season.

This will be the first service between the two cities since the end of a previous Loganair service in 2012.

Loganair chief executive Jonathan Hinkles said: “There are currently over 2,000 Northern Ireland students at Dundee University and strong golf ties with famous Open Championship courses at each end of the route in St Andrews and Royal Portrush.

“Today’s announcement of an enhanced London service and a new Belfast link will provide a very significant boost for Dundee Airport, and we’re delighted to be building on Loganair’s longstanding presence at the airport with these exciting developments.”

There was more positive news with the introduction of the route from Dundee to London City Airport.

The Tele exclusively revealed earlier this year that airport bosses launched an ambitious bid to secure the route.

And now it has been confirmed that Loganair will operate the route, starting on March 29.

The original route to London City was stopped in 2014.

Recent research found the majority of businesses in Tayside want to see a return to the capital’s hub.

The announcement means the route will no longer operate to Stansted.

A lead-in fare of £59.99 each way will mean a reduction in the cost of a Dundee-London return, down by £10 on the return fare to Stansted.

This has been achieved despite an overall reduction in the public subsidy for the Dundee air service over the lifetime of the new contract.

Mr Hinkles said: “There are real benefits for our customers in this move to fly directly into UK’s capital, not least being the reduced travel time to the heart of the city.

“London City Airport is only 10 minutes from Canary Wharf and 30 minutes from central London, making it ideal for both business and l eisure travellers. It’s a substantial time saving on the Stansted Express journey.”

Chris Law, MP for Dundee West, said: “Flights from Dundee to London City Airport are an important piece of the jigsaw in terms of bringing investment and employment to our local area in the future.” He added that he was delighted that these flights will return.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Douglas Ross said: “I am delighted that UK Government funding is helping to boost connectivity between Dundee and London, two fantastic UK cities.

“News that this i mportant service will now serve London City Airport means business and leisure passengers will find it even easier to travel between Dundee and the very heart of London.”