AIRPORT bosses have hailed a flagship long-haul service after it enjoyed record demand.

Officials at Newcastle Airport say its daily Emirates flight, which carries people between the North-East and Dubai, took 22,745 passengers last month.

The service started at Newcastle in 2007 and has welcomed well in excess of one million travellers.

Airport chiefs also say the flights have bolstered freight work, with demand for cargo, mainly through the Dubai service, lifting annual export values to £310m.

The number has grown from less than £20m nearly ten years ago as goods such as fishing equipment and oilfield and automotive parts go to the Middle-East.

Nick Jones, airport interim chief executive, said: “We are delighted to announce these record figures.

“We will celebrate ten years of Emirates flying out of Newcastle next year and look forward to continuing our fantastic relationship well into the future.”

Laurie Berryman, Emirates’ UK vice-president, previously told The Northern Echo the airline was “here to stay” and said the record numbers provide no reason to change its focus.

He added: “We have seen travel from the region to Dubai and beyond flourish.

“Newcastle has become an important gateway for business and leisure travellers in the North-East, and we look forward to continuing our very successful relationship long into the future.”

Emirates’ success is welcome news for Newcastle after another of its blue-ribbon long-haul services, United Airlines’ non-stop flights to New York, ended earlier this month.

The company cited weaker-than-anticipated demand and Brexit uncertainty for the decision.

However, United exclusively told The Northern Echo it hasn’t dismissed returning such routes to the region and has no regrets over the venture.