The first air link to Northern Ireland’s busiest airport from Southampton is being introduced by Eastern Airways.
Initial daily flights to Belfast International airport are scheduled to start on February 9 in time for the school half-term holidays.
The new service will be operated by 72-seat ATR aircraft with fares starting at £59.99 one way.
The Belfast route compliments multi daily Southampton-Manchester flights and a daily Southampton-Dublin service.
Eastern Airways had previously operated a Southampton–Belfast City service, stepping in after two carriers withdrew prior to the pandemic.
The same airlines returned to Belfast City this year but one has already stopped the route leaving Aer Lingus as the sole operator.
Eastern said: “We will again support the economic prosperity and stability, however via Belfast International to ensure a sustainable approach to capacity.”
Commercial director Roger Hage said: “This is a major step in growing connectivity to the North of Ireland from our Southampton base.
“The recent reduction in operator capacity and choice from Belfast airports and a growing network and ambition of Belfast International airport offers an opportunity to meet the burgeoning demand for connecting the two nations especially with such strong onward connectivity.
“Adding the new Northern Irish destination of Belfast International significantly improves critical connectivity between the UK’s regions.
“We continue to ensure the right services are being offered, so growing our English south coast hub network and capacity to a high demand capital city in both directions is a crucial part of increasing connectivity and aiding economic recovery to both business and the UK’s vital tourism sector.”
Matt Hazelwood, chief commercial officer of Southampton airport owner AGS Airports, said: “The introduction of this first-ever daily service to Belfast International airport from Southampton is tremendous news.”
Belfast International business development director Uel Hoey added: “Eastern Airways will add a completely new string to the bow at Belfast International airport as a long-established and successful UK regional airline, and their fleet gauge and flexibility will potentially in time open up a range of new regional destinations for the convenience of the travelling public which have hitherto been of insufficient market size to be offered by the current low cost jet operator partners.”
Eastern Airways last week announced a new Humberside-Esbjerg service, an East Midlands-Newquay connection complimenting an increased three-times daily Gatwick-Newquay service, plus a doubling of Newquay–Humberside and Newcastle-Aberdeen frequency.