Aer Lingus Regional to launch new Cardiff route from Belfast City Airport The Aer Lingus Regional hub operated by Stobart Air at Belfast City Airport is to add an eighth route. Ryan McAleer 05 May, 2021 14:00
THE Aer Lingus Regional hub at Belfast City Airport is to add another former Flybe route to the growing operation.
Stobart Air, which operates the service, will begin flights to Cardiff from June 28, running four times weekly.
It will go head-to-head with Eastern Airways on the Belfast City to Cardiff route. Eastern, which announced its plan to restore the air link between Northern Ireland and Wales last year, is due to commence flights to Cardiff at the end of May.
Eastern Airways resumes services between Leeds/Bradford and Newquay
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4th May 2021
The carrier also plans to restart its route between the Northern hub and Southampton later this year
On Friday (April 30), Eastern Airways restarted its Leeds/Bradford – Cornwall/Newquay service, marking the beginning of the summer season at the facility.
The first flight was sold out, which demonstrates the high demand for travel to south-west England as the tourism and hospitality sectors begin to reopen.
Photo Eastern Airways
“We are delighted to be back operating the Newquay Cornwall Airport services with the first Leeds-Bradford Airport departure full. Bringing this service back as the first operator into Newquay is part of our wider return. As passenger confidence increases following the UK’s relaxation of restrictions, we want to ensure the right services and frequency is being offered,” said Roger Hage, general manager of Eastern Airways.
Eastern Airways starts summer season with resumption of Leeds Bradford – Newquay service
Celebrating the restart of Eastern Airways’ service from Leeds Bradford Airport to Cornwall Airport Newquay on 30 April 2021: Amy Smith, Marketing & Business Performance Manager, Cornwall Airport Newquay; Scott Brazil, Cabin Services, Eastern Airways; Ian Nunnington, Chief Pilot, Eastern Airways; and Tom Holdsworth, Aviation Development Manager, Leeds Bradford Airport. Credit: Alice Winterburn
On 30 April 2021, Eastern Airways restarted its service from Leeds Bradford Airport to Cornwall Airport Newquay. It marked the launch of the summer season as the first operator back into Cornwall Airport Newquay on its reopening to passenger services.
30 April 2021
Eastern Airways today re-started the Leeds-Bradford – Cornwall Newquay service, marking the launch of the summer season as the first operator back into Cornwall Airport Newquay which re-opened to passenger services today.
The initial flight was sold out and forward demand is thriving, highlighting the popularity of Cornwall as the UK hospitality and tourism sectors begins to re-open.
The UK’s regional airline will operate the Newquay service up to five-weekly, adding to the Leeds Bradford - Southampton service which will shortly return. Newquay will also be served again for the second year running from Teesside International. Fares start from £69.99 including taxes and charges with 15kg checked baggage as standard. Book directly at www.easternairways.com
Premium Analysis
Two recent developments cast the spotlight on UK regional airlines (including the Channel Islands). These are an agreement in principle to a codeshare between Blue Islands and Aurigny Air Services, and an announcement that Flybe plans to relaunch this summer.
According to the CAPA Fleet Database, UK regional airlines have a total fleet of 107 passenger aircraft as at 27-Apr-2021 – only 12% of the overall total of 774 passenger aircraft. Regional airlines share of UK fleet seats is even lower, at just 4%.
Nevertheless, regional operators have a higher share of their fleet in service (65%) than other airlines (47%), and reduced their active fleet less drastically in the first lockdown.