A NUMBER of flights from Teesside International Airport have been cancelled following the latest government advice to avoid non-essential travel.

Today, Eastern Airways announced they would be temporarily suspending services to two UK destinations and would be making service reductions elsewhere until April 17.

The changes are understood to have been made in line with decisions made by other airlines as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rise daily across the UK in Europe. 

What you need to know

Eastern Airways flights from Teesside International Airport to Dublin and Cardiff are being suspended until April 17.

Eastern Airways flights from Teesside International Airport to Aberdeen and Southampton are being reduced to a single daily service.

Flights to Belfast City will remain as one daily service.

KLM also confirmed flights from Teesside International Airport to Amsterdam would be reduced to one daily flight until March 27 - then grounded until further notice.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen offered assurances that the airport would not suffer redundancies during this period of reduced service.

He said: “Due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus and the latest government advice and restrictions on travel, the airline industry is facing extraordinary and unprecedented challenges, and it is only natural that Teesside International Airport will be impacted by this.

“Our priority has to be the health and welfare of our passengers and staff. It is absolutely essential that in this time of national emergency we all pull together and do everything we can to keep people safe. The steps taken by our airline partners are consistent with airlines around the world and we fully support their decision.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank staff at the airport who are working tirelessly to minimise disruption for passengers as quickly as possible, and I continue to urge everyone to follow the advice from the NHS and the Government to help us get through the coming weeks and months as safely as we can.”

Kate Willard of Stobart Group, which runs the airport, added: “We would like to reiterate the words of the Mayor; these are unprecedented challenges and we will continue to do our utmost to protect our employees and our partners, alongside working with government to help protect the UK aviation sector which is so important to our national economy. Thank you team Teesside International Airport; you continue to do a brilliant job.”