Flights to Spain are coming back to Durham Tees Valley Airport

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen revealed the new flights, which will be available from next summer, at the airport this morning.

• Two women 'seriously injured' in crash near Newton Aycliffe

The Northern Echo also understands Mr Houchen remains in talks with airports in London to try and secure direct flights to the capital, as well as possible future routes in Ireland. 

In January, Mr Houchen's key election pledge of returning the loss-making airport to public ownership was approved by the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) cabinet. The airport is being run in a 75/25 split with operator Stobart Aviation with the aim of attracting 1.4m passengers in the next decade.

Earlier this month, a lengthy dispute to re-name the airport was finally resolved after businessman Chris Joseph, who had asked the TVCA to pay £250,000 for the intellectual rights to Teesside Airport he bought in 2015, relinquished the ownership of the name on the back of "personal attacks".

It opens the door for DTV Airport to be officially renamed Teesside International this summer.

JetsGo Holidays will offer package holidays to passengers to Majorca from summer 2020

JetsGo Holidays will start operating flights from the Airport to Palma (PMI) in Majorca every Sunday, from July 19 in 2020 for ten weeks, at the height of the summer season.

The flights have gone on sale today, with passengers able to book package holidays to Majorca from around £349 per person.

The agreement with JetsGo Holidays is the first secured as part of the new partnership with Stobart Aviation which took over operation of Durham Tees Valley Airport in March 2019.

The decision by JetsGo Holidays to start services from the airport follows the success of Balkan Holidays beginning a full programme of summer holiday charter flights to Bulgaria in May 2019.

The flights have proved very popular. Balkan Holidays has confirmed that it will now run a second summer of holidays flying from Durham Tees Valley Airport in 2020.

• Plans for retail development near Arnison Centre, Durham

Established in 2014, JetsGo Holidays launched with a charter service from Manchester Airport to Palma and has since expanded to offer package holidays from Belfast and Inverness Airport. 

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Just a few months after buying back our airport, I’m delighted to announce that flights to the UK’s most popular holiday destination will be returning to Teesside. With these flights to Majorca next year, JetsGo Holidays has become the latest company to throw its weight behind our airport.

“When kids break up for their summer holidays, families won’t have the slog to Manchester, Leeds or Newcastle to get a great value break – they’ll be able to jet off to Spain from Teesside for the first time in seven years.

“While we’re only four months in, this announcement, and the additional holiday flights to Bulgaria, demonstrates that our airport can be a success and our 10 Year Rescue Plan is working.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen with JetsGo Holidays director Daniel Reilly

JetsGo Holidays director Daniel Reilly said:  “We are excited to introduce our Majorca holidays to the residents of the Tees Valley region and beyond.

"Our companies aim has always been to offer great value package holidays with a personalised touch and from the feedback we have received from our customers flying out of Belfast and Inverness Airports it is clear we are achieving that with our 5-star Trust Pilot rating.

“All our holidays can be booked with just a low £75 per person deposit and include family friendly timed flights, 15kg luggage allowance, accommodation and resort transfers, ensuring the price the customers see, is the price that they pay.

“We look forward to welcoming the regions residents back to fly on holiday from their local airport in 2020.”

• Flights have gone on sale today via www.jetsgoholidays.com or by calling 0800 368 9078