Durham business leaders welcome new Southampton flight
Eastern Airways' new service from Southampton to Durham Tees Valley Airport, which launched at the beginning of this week, has been welcomed by business leaders in the region.
The new twice daily weekday service is primarily aimed at business travellers and timings enable day return trips to the Tees Valley region in north east England.
Sally Lynskey, chief executive officer of Business Southampton, welcomed the new route and said: "This is a great development and means business people from the Southampton region can travel to the Tees Valley area and back comfortably within the day. This broadens the communications to and from the city and underlines the important role that City Champion, Southampton Airport, plays in the prosperity of the region."
Southampton & Fareham Chamber of Commerce & Industry have also welcomed the new route. Jimmy Chestnutt, director general, commented: "Our members need to meet with their customers as time efficiently as possible, and this new service to Durham Tees Valley Airport, will ensure they save valuable business time by flying closer to their destination in the north east of England than ever before. We congratulate Eastern Airways and Southampton Airport on the launch of this new and valuable service."
A number of industries on the south coast have links with the Tees Valley, including chemical, pharmaceutical, energy, manufacturing, marine and offshore sectors.
Mike Bedingfield, chief executive of Tourism South East, said: "Southampton Airport is a major gateway to the beautiful South and Tourism South East is delighted to support the introduction of new routes which are beneficial to the tourism industry. We see this new connection encouraging both business visitors and repeat leisure visits to the region."
Weekday flights depart from Southampton at 9.10am and 7.20pm, arriving in Durham Tees Valley at 10.55am and 9.05pm. Services leave Durham Tees Valley at 6.45am and 4.55pm, landing in Southampton at 8.40am and 6.50pm.
Key industry centres in and around Middlesbrough, Darlington, Stockton on Tees, Hartlepool and Durham are all within close proximity to Durham Tees Valley Airport.
Chris Holliday, Eastern Airways chief operating officer, said: "Reliable transport links support trade and commerce and help businesses to prosper. Our convenient flights offer Southampton commuters choice, including a day return option to Durham Tees Valley and that particular part of the north east, saving valuable time away from the office."
Kevin Brown, managing director of Southampton Airport, commented: "We welcome the first ever regular air service between Southampton and Durham Tees Valley Airport. This new route will allow people in the north east to gain easy access to the major cities of the south such as Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Winchester and Basingstoke. Our dedicated train station on the airport's doorstep also provides an easy and fast connection to London, just 66 minutes away by train."
Eastern Airways is consistently rated one of the UK's most punctual airlines*. Passengers flying with Eastern Airways benefit from their "no compromise" service with no cost for baggage, choice of seat or onboard drinks and snacks. Check-in is just 30 minutes before the departure time and passengers have use of the dedicated fast track security channel at Southampton to avoid any queues.
Humberside based Eastern Airways has been flying from Southampton for over six years. The airline recently started a new service from Southampton to Liverpool and also flies to Leeds Bradford, Newcastle and Aberdeen from the Hampshire airport.
For more information and bookings, visit easternairways.com.
* For punctuality information, visit flightontime.info