The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Dundee Airport to London City flights to begin next month... and Belfast to follow.
TRAVEL: Bosses say all flights will operate under ‘safe steps to healthy flying’ protocols
Flights from Dundee to London City airport are due to take off next month.
Loganair said it intended to begin operating the route on July 6.
The airline previously announced it would be switching its service from Stansted to London City airport as well as reintroducing a Belfast flight.
Both services were set to begin earlier this year, before the coronavirus pandemic grounded the plans.
Flights to Belfast will begin in September.
The London City service will initially include six flights per week, but it is scheduled to increase to two daily takeoffs in August.
Bosses said all flights will be operated under Loganair’s “safe steps to healthy flying” protocols, which detail how the airline plans to reduce the risk of infection during the global pandemic.
Kay Ryan, Loganair chief commercial officer, said the London City route will bring “real benefits” to travellers visiting London when compared to the previous option.
“London City airport is only 10 minutes from Canary Wharf and 30 minutes from central London, making it ideal for both business and leisure travellers,” she said.
“It’s a substantial time saving on the Stansted Express journey.”
The Belfast service will begin with two flights a week. Both routes will use a 48-seat ATR42 turboprop aircraft.
Ms Ryan added: “We are pleased to bring back a Dundee to Belfast service, for which we’re sure there will be strong demand as lockdown eases.
“Many hundreds of Northern Ireland students traditionally attend Dundee University and there are strong golf ties with famous Open Championship courses at each end of the route at St Andrews and Royal Portrush.
“The 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.”
Dundee city development convener Alan Ross welcomed the increased connectivity. He said: “This move signals not only confidence in the resumption of aviation services in the country as a whole, but specifically an endorsement of Dundee as a key part of the company’s plans coming out of lockdown.”