London Tees Valley route will create jobs for 100 (From The Northern Echo)

London Tees Valley route will create jobs for 100

10:16am Saturday 25th July 2009 in

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A NEW airline which hopes to restore a link between Durham Tees Valley Airport and London will immediately create more than 100 jobs, its backers claimed last night.

Excelsis Airways said it had begun the hunt for staff to fill a number of positions, including call centre agents, customer service representatives, pilots, engineers and technicians and flight attendants.

The company, based at Morton Palms business park, in Darlington, plans to offer a three times daily service to London City Airport, largely aimed at business travellers.

It is encouraging people to submit their CV via its website, which was launched yesterday.

Last night, the Excelsis plans were welcomed by regional development agency One North East and Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson.

Passengers will be able book flights from September 19, according to the website.

They can also pre-register an interest in flights and receive updates from the airline.

A spokesman for Excelsis said 100 or more jobs were being created with the new service.

However, he confirmed that the company had yet to secure the aircraft it plans to use, stating that this was “ongoing”

and that the relevant agreements were “not yet in place”. Mr Wilson said the Excelsis news, together with the recent Government approval for funding to relocate a train station at the airport, proved there was “still a lot of life”

left in it.

He said: “This is positive news, not just for the airport, but the local economy.

“There is still a lot of life in the airport with Government investment in the infrastructure and transport links to the airport and other airlines having an interest in flying from there.”

Simon Goon, head of business investment at One North East, said: “Any new business investment into the North- East is clearly welcome and we look forward to learning more of Excelsis’ plans in due course.”

A spokesman for Durham Tees Valley Airport, which saw bmi cancel its service to London Heathrow earlier this year, said: “We are, of course, in discussion on a regular basis with airlines on possible opportunities for services into London and other destinations and, despite the current economic difficulties, we are committed to expanding services from Durham Tees Valley.

“We have met Excelsis Airways to discuss their proposals and we look forward to receiving further information and details of the services they intend to introduce.”