ALL-YEAR round flights to New York could soon be taking off from the North-East.

United Airlines told The Northern Echo it has not ruled out increasing Transatlantic services at Newcastle Airport after returning “bigger and better” to the region.

The carrier today (Thursday, May 26) re-started non-stop Big Apple trips from the North-East, which will run six times a week until early September.

The flights, prized by airport bosses for years, build on five-day-a-week operations launched last year and complement the site’s sister long-haul offering to Dubai.

Davie Laws, the airport’s former chief executive, previously told The Northern Echo he wanted United’s flights to operate all-year round within five years, and, speaking as passengers boarded the first plane to New York, Bob Schumacher, United’s UK and Ireland managing director for sales, echoed such optimism.

He said: “We are back bigger and better and it is now a case of tickling, nurturing and growing what we have.

“We have a wonderful asset (with our planes), we can fly anywhere and deploy them where we think there is demand.

“But we have seen that people really want this and that it is a success story because of the connectivity it provides.

“We ran a good season last year, let’s see how it goes.”

Mr Schumacher announced in September last year that United would be returning to Newcastle with a richer flight offering, which he said would give tourists easier access to hundreds of destinations and businesses greater scope to forge links across the Atlantic.

Looking back on its first year, he also revealed the partnership had yielded significant benefits the other way around, with the number of Americans using United’s planes to visit the North-East rising.

He added: “The most heartening part last year was that the Americans started finding the North-East.

“It went from ten per cent to 25 per cent.

“For an American carrier that was great for us.”

Officials at Newcastle were close to introducing New York flights in 2007, before the economic downturn hit, but John Irving, the site’s business development director, said the wait has been worth it.

He also reiterated ambitions to extend United’s offering from the base.

He added: “The team here fought hard for these flights and it is helping get passengers into the North-East.

“The sixth day will make a massive difference for leisure and business travellers.

“But the message is still the same – the more we get behind these services, the bigger and better they will become.

“We have got to continue the momentum; that is the challenge and we will do it in a sustainable way.

“These flights are helping passengers come into the region and see what the area has, which is good for hotels, bars and restaurants.

“But they are also giving everyone across the airport a lift.

“The air traffic controllers look forward to the planes coming in, as do the refuellers.

“The impact of this service should not be underestimated.”

Councillor Iain Malcolm, leader of South Tyneside Council and leader of the consortium that part owns the airport, added: “This is a tremendous achievement for the North-East and the local economy, and passengers and businesses now have to demonstrate their faith in the airport and United.

“Businesses have told us for years they wanted this; now they have to step up to the plate.

“I’m confident they will.”