An air service between Teesside airport and Heathrow has been re-established after a gap of more than a decade.
Teesside Airport and regional carrier Eastern Airways remain in talks with airlines to make it easier for passengers to continue onward travel via Heathrow.
A number of announcements are expected in the coming months, according to the north-east airport.
Fares on the daily route start at £54.99 one-way, including taxes and fees.
The resumption of the service to the London hub came a week after the first flight to Southampton took off since Teeside airport’s reopening to passengers following the coronavirus pandemic.
Further route announcements are expected over the coming weeks and months.
New aviation minister Robert Courts said: “Re-establishing the route between Teesside International and Heathrow is not only a positive sign that the aviation sector is getting back up and running despite coronavirus, but also that levelling up the UK is central to government’s plans and is powering ahead.”
Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: “Today’s first flight is the start of an exciting new partnership between Teesside International, Eastern Airways and Heathrow airport, after an absence of over a decade.
“The Tees Valley region now has the world at their doorstep, and this sort of connectivity will facilitate the economic recovery and future growth for the people and businesses across the region.
“The importance and value of hub connectivity to the UK’s regions is critical to the government’s levelling up agenda.
“If regions cannot connect to global trade, productivity and skills they will instead experience higher unemployment, skills shortages and an investment decline.”