THE first flight from Teesside Airport to Heathrow Airport, London took to the skies today (Monday) after more than ten years.

The new service, which will run daily, has renewed the region’s links to one of the world’s best connectivity airports which historically serves more than 80 million people per year.

Local people in Teesside, the North East and Yorkshire will be better connected to the capital, allowing them to fly into London for business or to travel on to more than 180 locations in 84 countries across the world.

Teesside Airport and Eastern Airways remain in talks with airlines to make it even easier to continue onward travel via Heathrow, with a number of announcements expected in the coming months.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “In just 18 months we’ve gone from our airport facing the prospect of imminent closure, before I did a deal to save it, to an ever-expanding list of destinations and the first plane departing for Heathrow in over a decade.

"This amazing new route gives holidaymakers from Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool access to more than 180 destinations across the world and will play an important role in my plan for jobs for local workers as we recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Linking Teesside to Heathrow, one of the world’s best airports, will mean our amazing companies are not only able to do business in London but can capitalise on our global aspirations with onward flights to scores of worldwide destinations. We will also be able to welcome more investors from around the world through our terminal.”

Roger Hage, General Manager Commercial & Operations for Eastern Airways, said: “As the UK’s regional airline, we at Eastern Airways are all about connecting people and places, which by providing a rare new domestic service into London Heathrow adds a worldwide array of onward destinations for business and leisure needs, vital for the economic recovery and prosperity of the Teesside region as a whole. It also makes for a quick and comfortable option for all to reach the capital or Teesside and adds to our growing array of services supporting the region.”