Teesside International Airport "coming back fighting" with "overwhelming demand" for new route

A North East airport has announced that it is “coming back fighting” as it is “blown away” by the popularity of a new flight path.

Middlesbrough FC boss Neil Warnock is supporting new signings for Teesside International Airport today as it reveals that its twice-weekly connection to Cornwall Airport Newquay will now run all year round and the three-times-a-week Dublin flights will launch on 25 September.

Eastern Airways’ first flight to Cornwall departed from Teesside on 6 July and after just two weeks of operation, it had to increase the size of the plane on the route due to the “overwhelming demand”.

Now, due to the high levels of forward bookings, it has also been revealed that the flight will continue beyond the end of its season in September, becoming a year-round service.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “When we were planning the introduction of the flight to Newquay we knew it would be popular, but everyone has been blown away by just how popular. We never expected that we would have to increasing capacity and make it a year-round service within days of its launch.

“We greeted the Boro team at the airport when they flew out to beat Millwall 2-0 and then again for their 2-1 victory over Reading - a 100 per cent record when flying from Teesside! Here’s hoping Neil decides to be a frequent flyer on this expanded service to his home region.

“It has been a difficult few months for all airports, with our temporary closure due to the coronavirus pandemic pausing our regular flights and putting some new routes on hold, but during that time we haven’t slowed down. We’re coming back fighting, not just getting our old flights up and running again, but extending our offer as people are becoming comfortable about flying again.

“I told the people of Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool that they should get behind our airport and to use it or they’d lose it, and I’m delighted to see they’re doing just that. It’s great to see the enthusiasm which is going both ways between Teesside and the UK’s top staycation spot.

“This public support isn’t just important to keep us flying to popular holiday and business destinations, it will show we’re a region open to inward investment coming through our terminal, and forms a major part of my recovery plan - creating good quality well paid local jobs for local workers.”

Roger Hage, general manager commercial and operations for Eastern Airways, said: “The initial response to adding Newquay to the growing mix of Teesside services in our partnership with the airport has been very positive and why such a service can be sustainable year-round which we are delighted as Eastern Airways to deliver as the UK’s regional airline.

“This helps give not simply Teesside locally, but the wider North Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland year-round access to the South West and vice-versa, all helping business and tourism related economic recovery.”