Flights from Teesside to Aberdeen took off again yesterday (Monday, May 20) after an airline pulled out of the route last month.

Scottish airline Loganair scrapped its flights between Teesside Airport and Aberdeen, deemed crucial for the North Sea oil and gas industry, after a ‘review of its operations’.

Eastern Airways were hot on the Scottish airline’s heels to snap up the route, announcing flights earlier this month.

The first of a new service running on Sundays and weekdays took off on Monday (May 20).

The route will increase to run twice a day on weekdays from September 9.

The route was previously run by Eastern until 2022, before it was taken over by Loganair.

Loganair said last month as it also cut Aberdeen flights from Newcastle: “We appreciate the changes we are announcing today may impact some customers whose bookings may need to change.

"While we apologise to customers affected, this decision is one that has been made for the greater good of the vast majority of customers who must be able to book and fly with confidence, especially from some of the most remote parts of the UK.”

The new flight was greeted with a water salute at Teesside Airport on Monday.

The Northern Echo: Firefighters perform a water salute for the plane arriving on the new route, as per aviation tradition.Firefighters perform a water salute for the plane arriving on the new route, as per aviation tradition. (Image: PR)

Eastern Airways commercial director Roger Hage said: “Eastern Airways have been operating from Teesside every year since 2001 so returning to the Aberdeen service from today restores familiarity to many faces we have welcomed on-board for many years.

“We more than any operator know the value of connecting the UK’s energy capital Aberdeen to significant regional employment centres throughout the UK so adding Teesside to our growing route mix, while also operating services such as Amsterdam on behalf of KLM, and the summer seasonal Jersey flights, all help ensure the long-term future of connectivity from Teesside responding to demand as strong and vibrant UK regional airport and airlines working in partnership.”

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Mayor Ben Houchen added: “We’re at the forefront of new offshore industries coming to Teesside – and we’ve had a longstanding and deeply skilled workforce grafting in the North Sea and around the world for decades now.

“It is absolutely vital offshore workers keep their link to Aberdeen to get to and from work, and I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring this back to our departure boards.

“As things stand, we’re the only airport offering an Aberdeen link in the North-East. It shows, once again, that our airport is about more than just holiday flights – it’s helping the livelihoods of people in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.”