Flights to Europe’s leading oil centre, Aberdeen, are being expanded from Newcastle Airport with Eastern Airways introducing an even greater choice of flights to meet the needs of business travellers and the offshore industry.

The UK regional airline, which has consistently provided the north east with reliable services to Aberdeen from Newcastle since 2003, will increase weekday services from 4 to 5 flights a day from 1 October 2012. During the week a 50 seat Embraer 145 jet will also be introduced to peak flights.

Eastern Airways’ additional flights will result in an extra 1,700 seats a month on the route. From Newcastle after the popular 6.45am departure for Aberdeen, there will be a new 8.30am departure northbound Monday to Wednesday along with 5pm and 7.10pm services leaving Newcastle Wednesday to Friday.

Departing from Aberdeen there will be a new 5.45pm departure Monday to Friday and additional 3.45pm and 4.45pm departures on Thursdays, which is traditionally one of the busiest days for southbound flights to Newcastle. This allows for hourly Thursday departures from mid afternoon to early evening.
The new flights will be bookable by Monday 10 September 2012.

The North East has had strong connections with Aberdeen, which is regarded as Europe’s energy capital with the buoyant offshore oil industry.
“We’ve played a major role supporting the North Sea offshore industry with vital transport links for many years,” said Kay Ryan, Eastern Airways’ commercial director. “Our latest expansion of services from Newcastle demonstrates our continued commitment to providing the best business schedules for north east offshore workers and business commuters heading to Aberdeen. The level of high frequency services at convenient times offers superb flexibility, while our 50 seat jet will also operate on peak flights during the week.”

Joanne Leng MBE, deputy chief executive, NOF Energy, said: “It’s fantastic news that Eastern Airways is increasing the frequency of their flights from Newcastle to Aberdeen. I am sure those involved in the oil and gas sector in both regions will find the additional routes of benefit. Both Aberdeen and North East England are key hubs for the UK oil and gas market and it is essential that we make moving between the two centres as easy as possible. In the long term it benefits both regional economies and ensures that supply chain companies continue to have access to new business opportunities by being able to reach and service their client base quickly.”

A dedicated fast track security channel is offered at Newcastle and Aberdeen airports for all Eastern Airways passengers to avoid any queues at security search, which also enables the airline to close check-in just 30 minutes before the departure time. Passengers flying with the airline are not charged for check-in, baggage, choice of seat or onboard drinks and snacks.

Services to Birmingham, Cardiff and Stavanger in Norway which is another significant energy centre, are also provided by Eastern Airways from Newcastle Airport and supported by its team of 50 locally based pilots, engineers and cabin crew.

The airline has a fleet of 30 aircraft flying from 21 airports in the UK, Norway, Belgium and France.