RYANAIR, announced a new Teesside route for this summer, yesterday, and has hinted at 'long-term traffic growth' and 'new routes'.

The airline will now fly to Corfu, Greece from Teesside International Airport.

The new route was announced yesterday (Wednesday) from Teesside to Corfu operating every Wednesday from July.

This new route expands Ryanair’s offer from Teesside following the airline’s return to the region with two other summer routes to Alicante and Palma de Mallorca, both flying twice weekly from June.

As vaccination programmes continue in Europe and the UK makes impressive progress with its vaccine rollout, Ryanair expects air travel to soar in the peak summer months.

Ryanair’s Commercial Director, Jason McGuinness, said: “Our connections to Alicante and Palma de Mallorca are proving to be a popular choice for Teesside consumers and we’re pleased to expand the region’s connectivity with this new route to Corfu (Greece), bringing a third holiday destination for British families to enjoy this summer.

"Teesside Airport continue to work to deliver efficient operations and competitive airport charges, which offer the means for long-term traffic growth and new routes.

"To celebrate this new Corfu route, we are launching a seat sale with fares available from just £19.99, for travel from July until the end of October 2021, which must be booked by midnight Friday (23 April). Since these amazing low fares will be snapped up quickly, customers should log onto www.ryanair.com and avoid missing out.”

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, said: "Teesside is a fantastic airport in the perfect location. It is easy to drive to, just a few miles off the East Coast Mainline and it has five million people within a 90 minute catchment area coupled with a runway capable of landing the world’s largest aircraft. Ryanair has seen the opportunity and they’re seizing on it. They’re announcing new routes before the first plane has even departed because the Palma and Alicante flights have been that popular and already hinting at more.

“We have a very clear, transparent 10-year rescue plan and yes we have been ‘promoting it a lot’ and I’m pleased my opponent has recognised this, we’ve been working hard and there’s a great team in place at the airport.

“We don’t have huge overheads or the need to charge a fortune to line the pockets of rich executives in an overseas boardroom. Put simply the airport needs to pay for itself and be able to stand on its own two feet. Bringing more flights that will bring more passengers through the door and opening up new shops and bars in the terminal is getting us firmly on track with this plan and creating many jobs.

“It would be amiss of me to say the past year hasn’t been a difficult environment to operate an airport, but when times are tough, it can often define the character and show the sheer grit and determination. The same grit and determination that saved our airport from closure. Many had written it off, down and out, instead a phoenix rising from the ashes.

“We’re standing out from the crowd, putting Teesside on the map, making bold changes and not burying our heads in the sand because times are tough. We’re investing in our airport, bringing it up to date and wowing Ryanair. We’re developing a fantastic long term partnership with one of the biggest airlines who want to be part of our journey. This is just the start.”