AIRPORT bosses were celebrating last night after landing a new airline to take-over a well established route.

Management at Teesside began the day expressing their "disappointment" at Gill Airway's decision to end the Teesside to Aberdeen service.

But disappointment turned to delight as the airport revealed it had successfully concluded a deal with Humberside-based Eastern Airways, who will take over the service in November.

Deputy airport MD, Tom Lumley said: "We are delighted that we shall be able to maintain continuity of the service for customers on what is a very well established and popular route .

"The decision by Gill was not entirely surprising. This has been a difficult year for the company as a result of it being placed in financial administration in February."

Gill's decision formed part of the imminent retirement from service of all its Shorts 360 commuter airliners.

According to Gill, the Aberdeen route had moved into financial loss and Malcolm Naylor, chief executive of the airline said: "As recently as February, we had spoken optimistically about the potential for growth at Teesside.

"However, traffic from there to Aberdeen has been badly hit by the ongoing lack of offshore-related activity on the Tees, coupled with general overcapacity in the air market between the North-East and Aberdeen."

Gill will maintain its Newcastle to Aberdeen operation, with a different jet and hopes to return to financial independence in the next couple of months.

The airline had, since August, trimmed three weekly return flights from the schedule in an effort to staunch losses, leaving three return flights daily, Monday to Friday.

Although schedule details have yet to be finalised, Eastern is expected to provide a service similar to the current timetable