AN airline is poised to reconnect County Durham and the Tees Valley with London within a couple of months, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Excelsis Airways is hoping to start three round trips a day from Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTV) to Heathrow in early July.

The news comes two months after bmi axed its service to Heathrow, causing an outcry from business groups and MPs, who see the link as vital to the prosperity of the region, and prompting The Northern Echo to launch its Keep the Region Flying campaign.

Excelsis hopes to charge in the region of £220 return, and will target the business market, offering quick check-in and chauffeur-driven transport at either end.

“This has been many years in the planning. It is an exciting project for the business community of the North- East,” said spokesman Peter Troy.

“We very much hope everything will be ready for an inaugural flight in early July.”

A spokesman for DTV confirmed it was in negotiations with a number of airlines to restart the route.

Excelsis has been formed by an American who was in the US Air Force and then became a British Airways executive.

Before settling in County Durham, he worked in US internal flights.

The airline is leasing a Boeing 737-300 plane, which can normally seat up to 140 passengers, but because it is offering an up-market service, the capacity will be about 44.

Because the service will be classed as a private chartered flight, it is hoped to avoid the long check-in queues that usually more than double the 50-minute flying time.

The new airline hopes to expand its service to six round trips a day, and then to create a triangular service between DTV, Heathrow and London’s City Airport.

There are longer term plans to fly businessmen and women to European capitals.

Booking will be done via the nternet and a call centre, although Excelsis is looking to open an office near the airport, between Middleton St George and Yarm.

It is anticipated the airline will create a handful of jobs.

Bmi cut its 30-year-old Heathrow service at the end of March, citing the increased cost of landing in the capital.

Last week, Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTV) lost its High Court case against the airline for breach of contract.

Bmi joined flyglobespan, Thompson and Wizz Air in pulling out of DTV, causing passenger numbers to drop by 12 per cent in the past year.

Last month, Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson, in whose constituency the airport is located, led a delegation of North- East MPs to meet Aviation Minister Jim Fitzpatrick to press the case for regional airports.

Mr Wilson said: “It is vitally important for the region to have links into Heathrow. We need this kind of airline to encourage business people into Tees Valley and south Durham, and I hope it succeeds.”

An airport spokesman said: “We believe that there is a demand and a need for our area, and especially the business community, to have links to London and the worldwide air transport network.

We know that we have the support of the business community, our local authorities and development agencies in our efforts to examine all possible options for retaining links into London.

“We are in discussions with a number of airlines on possible opportunities for services into London, and indeed a number of other destinations, and despite the current economic difficulties, we remain committed to expanding services from Durham Tees Valley, for business and leisure travellers.”