Regional business leaders have backed the start of new Loganair flights between Glasgow and Belfast.
The launch came ahead of the reinstatement of a five-times-a-week service between London City airport and Belfast City by BA CityFlyer today (Monday), returning a route which had ceased with the failure of Flybe.
The route was London City’s fastest growing in 2019, up 14.7% year-on-year to 210,936 passengers.
The new Loganair service runs double daily Monday to Friday and on Sundays with a single flight on Saturdays using a 49-seat Embraer 145 regional jet.
The Scottish carrier is now one of the largest airlines at Belfast City airport after Aer Lingus.
Glasgow-based Loganair already flies from Belfast City to Aberdeen and Inverness, with a Dundee link starting on September 18.
Loganair has partnerships with several major airlines including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines and Norwegian carrier Wideroe, enabling travellers from Belfast City to use Loganair flights to Scotland’s hubs to catch onward connecting services.
These tie-ins will re-connect Belfast City to many of these airlines’ networks for the first time since the collapse of Flybe in March.
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick was on the first flight on Friday and was welcomed by Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Ann McGregor.
Patrick said: “Connectivity and resilience are important for every city during the present crisis and beyond. This new route from Loganair provides both for Glasgow and Belfast. There are many business connections between the two cities and this service will be invaluable for the companies involved.”
McGregor said: “We very much welcome the introduction of this Belfast to Glasgow service, which will help facilitate easy commercial travel between the two cities.
“Businesses across Northern Ireland already enjoy strong working relationships with customers and partners in Scotland and this service will go some way to ensuring that this can continue in the crucial months ahead.”
Loganair chief commercial officer Kay Ryan added: “Our expansion at Belfast City airport is part of a comprehensive plan to re-connect the UK regions as the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic begins through all walks of life.
“It has been our privilege to continue serving essential routes, and we are excited to be linking Belfast City with Scotland.
“There’s a real affinity between Scotland and Northern Ireland, and between Glasgow and Belfast in particular. There is much visiting between friends and relatives as well as a lot of business done.”