A NEW era of cheap flights has started at Teesside International Airport.
Low-cost airline bmibaby has started its daily services to Belfast, attracting passengers from Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, Leeds, Whitby and York.
The first flight left on Sunday with 100 passengers on board the Boeing 737 aircraft.
Geof Callen, from Richmond, received a bottle of Champagne from the airline as the first passenger on board the plane.
The firm will introduce flights to Malaga on Saturday and in December services to Geneva will begin.
The airline said bookings for its services have been going well since seats went on sale in July.
Meanwhile, a decision is still to be made over a possible controversial name change at the airport.
Peel Airports, the strategic partner, wants to rebrand the airport and change the name to make it more recognisable in Europe, with Durham Tees Valley understood to be the first choice.
But this has caused controversy, with many against the proposed name, including Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon, who described it as boring, suggesting Unity or St George would be more appropriate.
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