Eastern Airways has announced the launch of a new daily service between Belfast International Airport and Southampton.
Commencement Date
The new daily flights will commence on Thursday 9 February 2023.
Statements
Roger Hage, commercial director, Eastern Airways, 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. This welcome addition to the domestic network at Southampton and Belfast International will aid those who travel for business, visit friends and family or seek a welcome city or leisure break.
"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 given Eastern Airways is all about supporting the regions of the UK, connecting people and places, 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 where sustainable."
Welcoming the news, Belfast International Airport business development director Uel Hoey said, "We are thrilled to welcome Eastern Airways as a new airline customer to Belfast International Airport (BIA) and are particularly pleased to be able to offer a strong south coast link to the majority of travellers in our locality who prefer to use Belfast International Airport as their conduit for both business and leisure travel.
"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 at BIA."
