The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
City flights to London given fresh lifeline
Flights between Dundee and London are to keep running until at least 2023 after an injection of funding.
The UK Government has announced a £2.5 million boost to ensure flights between Tayside and London City Airport remain in operation.
Westminster said the money will support Dundee’s links to the UK capital as the industry continues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
It comes as part of a wider package which includes flights between Newquay and London.
Iain Stewart, UK Government minister for Scotland, said: “It’s great news that flights between London City and Dundee have been secured for another two years.
“As we work to improve transport connectivity across the whole country, this route will continue to allow quick and easy travel between
Tayside and the UK capital, supporting economic growth and job creation.”
Aviation Minister Robert Courts said: “We’re maintaining these vital transport links, including the hugely popular London to Dundee and the reinstated Newquay to London routes, for people right across the country for tourism and business travel.
“The government is fully behind UK regional connectivity and
strengthening these routes as we build back better from the pandemic.”
Scottish Transport Minster Graeme Dey said: “I welcome the extension of this contract which will continue to provide important connectivity for Dundee.
“This service will benefit business travellers and
offer visitors a direct route to experience the tourism offering in the city and surrounding area.”
The route will continue to be run by Loganair, which has operated the flights since 2014.
The airline revealed earlier this month that it had faced the most challenging year in
its history due to coronavirus.
The company’s turnover more than halved from £169m to £81m in the year ending March 31 2021.
The news of the London flight link being extended comes ahead of the launch of flights between Dundee and Shetland in May next year.