AN airline is set to return to a North-East airport with flights to five destinations.

Loganair is set to start flying the routes from Teesside International Airport from next year.

Flights to Aberdeen and Belfast city will start next February 1, with routes to Jersey, Newquay and Dublin set to begin from summer 2021, running three times a week to Cornwall Airport Newquay and twice weekly to Jersey.

The long-term partnership will see the Scottish airline return to the airport after leaving in 2018.

The airline has also gone one step further in its commitment to the airport – by naming one of its planes the “Spirit of Teesside”.

Frequent flyers will be able to take advantage of Clan Loganair, the company’s loyalty scheme, which allows passengers to collect points with every trip, which can then be redeemed for flights with only the taxes to pay.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Even in these tough times, it’s fantastic to be welcoming yet another airline to Teesside International, giving people from across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool, as well as from the wider North East and Yorkshire even more options when flying domestically from their local airport.

“As well as offering more flexibility for our passengers, Loganair is also reintroducing the much-loved summer route to Jersey. This is yet another great destination as we continue to expand our 2021 holidays schedule and give people something to look forward to in these difficult times.

“I’m looking forward to us working more closely together in the future to offer even more exciting destinations.

“The coronavirus has presented unprecedented challenges to the aviation sector, but despite the setbacks caused by the virus, our airport continues to move forward and we are already putting the building blocks in place for a strong 2021.”

Loganair Chief Executive, Jonathan Hinkles said: “It’s fantastic to be back in Teesside and to be able to announce a long-term commitment from Loganair to provide a comprehensive schedule of safe and dependable flights to the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands, symbolised by our newly named aircraft, The Spirit of Teesside.

“We’re confident the news will be most welcome from businesses in the region which depend on connectivity more so than ever as the recovery commences, and also to those looking to get away for a much-needed break in 2021."