TRANSATLANTIC flights are “not off the table” at a North-East airport as bosses seek to build on rising passenger numbers, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Newcastle Airport officials have refused to rule out new flights to New York and Boston.

They also told the Echo the enduring success of Emirates’ flagship service between the North- East and Dubai could yield further routes with the carrier.

John Irving, the airport’s business development director, said talks are at an early stage over new flights, adding that any additions would follow recent successful launches of new city services with Ryanair and Easyjet.

Bosses also say the routes would act as a magnet for more holidaymakers, with in excess of five million expected to use the airport throughout 2017 alone.

Last year, United Airlines halted its non-stop transatlantic service, saying weak demand and EU referendum worries had forced its hand.

However, Mr Irving said the airport had far from given up on longhaul services.

He said: “Long-haul was disappointing but we have moved on and it is not off the table.

“It won’t happen overnight but it is definitely still part of what we are trying to do.

“Can we get another carrier to serve New York or Boston?

"We are in conversations but it won’t happen that quickly.

"United actually stimulated the market and it got us on the map for different carriers; having it for two years was good.”

Mr Irving was similarly positive over Emirates’ Dubai service, which carries around 250,000 people a year and carries significant cargo loads, boosting North-East exports in the process.

He added: “Could we get another service out of Newcastle?

“Well, if it continues to grow and continues to be strong, we are on the list. Having companies like Emirates, which have been here for a long time, makes a huge difference for us.”