The first Loganair flights between London and Aberdeen have officially taken to the skies, as the airline’s direct services from London Southend Airport celebrated their inaugural departure.

A major boost for connectivity with Scotland’s oil and gas capital, the new, business-focused, schedule follows a period of overall reduction in London’s airlinks with Aberdeen.

Glyn Jones, chief executive of Stobart Aviation (owners of London Southend Airport), Denise Rossiter, chief executive of Essex Chamber of Commerce, and Jonathan Hinkles, Loganair managing director, were all in attendance for the first service.

Customers from London Southend can choose from three non-stop flights to Aberdeen each way every weekday, together with Sunday services, all operated by Loganair’s Embraer 145 regional jet aircraft.

The schedule is designed to enable a full working day in the Granite City before an evening flight home.

Flight times are only one hour and 35 minutes and all include 20-kilogram hold luggage and complimentary in-flight refreshments as standard.

Hinkles said: “Air connectivity with London is incredibly important for the north-east of Scotland where there has been significant capacity reduction to other London airports of late.

“We’ve specifically created a schedule which is optimum for those travelling for business during the week, with day-return schedules in addition to our rewarding frequent flyer programme: Clan Loganair.”