THE return of Ryanair to Teesside Airport will not be the only low-cost carrier, it has been hinted.

The Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has hinted that there are further plans to introduce more airlines to the airport beyond next year.

Speaking to The Northern Echo, Mr Houchen namechecked a number of carriers he suggested could be flying out of the airport in the next few years.

It comes as Mr Houchen recently revealed Ryanair had signed a seven-year contract with Ryanair to operate holiday flights between the airport and Europe until 2027.

At the time, he described the move as a “great vote of confidence” in Teesside Airport as he said customers had been eager to book flights to Alicante and Majorca.

But yesterday, Mr Houchen said: “We’re not stopping at Ryanair, I want Jet2, easyJet, Wizz, I want them all going from our airport.

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t set out expectations that high. It’s not going to be easy, we’ve seen easyJet pull out of Newcastle, but we’ve gained Ryanair. It goes to show that while other airports are losing flights, we’re gaining them.”

Mr Houchen, who earlier this year announced the return of Loganair after a three-year-gap to the airport, went on to acknowledge he was looking at plans to introduce further destinations.

He said: “We’re not going to get those new flights overnight, I know people want to go to Malaga and Dalaman, I do too – but it will take some time.

“But the Ryanair deal shows there is a big appetite for people to come back to Teesside Airport.”

After the return of Ryanair was last week revealed, Jason McGuiness, Director of Commercial at the airline, said: “Ryanair’s Director of Commercial Jason McGuinness said: “We are delighted to be back in Teesside with two new routes to Alicante and Mallorca, commencing on 1st June 2021.

“Both routes will operate twice weekly as part of our Teesside Summer schedule.”