Eastern Airways to Launch New Liverpool Services

Established UK regional airline, Eastern Airways, is launching its first ever scheduled services from Liverpool John Lennon Airport on Monday (6 July 2009).

The Humberside-based independent carrier is introducing three flights each weekday to Aberdeen and also three each weekday to Southampton from Liverpool.

Consistently rated one of the UK’s best on-time performers*, Eastern Airways’ high frequency Liverpool schedules and timings are primarily aimed at business travellers from Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and North Wales. All of its passengers have access to fast track security channels at Liverpool, Aberdeen and Southampton, which help to avoid queues at security search.

It’s nearly 12 years since the airline first started services targeting the oil and gas industry with flights up the east coast of England. Aberdeen is currently its largest base, and the new Liverpool service strengthens its Scottish network to 13 routes, operating more flights than any other carrier from the granite city.

Weekday services to Aberdeen depart Liverpool at 10.40am, 4.30pm and 7.20pm, arriving in Aberdeen at 11.50am, 5.50pm and 8.40pm. Flights leave Aberdeen at 6.40am, 2.30pm and 6.20pm, landing in Liverpool at 7.50am, 3.50pm and 7.40pm.

Southampton is the gateway to the UK’s busiest luxury cruise-liner port and, along with Liverpool, is steeped in maritime history. The south coast region and M3 corridor is home to many sectors of industry including petrochemical, pharmaceutical, finance and engineering.

Weekday Southampton flights leave Liverpool at 8.10am, 4.20pm and 8.10pm, landing at 9am, 5.20pm and 9.10pm. Flights depart Southampton at 9.30am, 3pm and 5.50pm, arriving in Liverpool at 10.20am, 4pm and 6.50pm.

London can also be quickly reached on the Southampton service as the southern airport’s rail station has fast and frequent trains to Waterloo.

“It’s fantastic to introduce Liverpool as a new departure point on our network,“ said Chris Holliday, Eastern Airways’ chief operating officer. “Our new services to Aberdeen and Southampton will provide the region’s business travellers with convenient day return flights from their local airport, saving them valuable time. “When developing routes we look at cities where there are traditionally strong industry links and Liverpool and its surrounding region certainly has that.”

Neil Pakey, deputy chief executive of Peel Airports, said: “These two destinations to the north and south are important for the region’s business community and Eastern Airways’ high quality, punctual service now means passengers can reach Aberdeen in just over an hour and Southampton in less than an hour, direct from their local airport.

“The airport has been targeting airlines to explore the domestic market and I am delighted that Eastern Airways has recognised the opportunities available from Liverpool.”

Passengers flying north to Aberdeen can connect onto the airline’s onward services to Stavanger in Norway, Wick on the northern tip of Scotland and Stornoway in the Scottish Western Isles.

Customer care is very much at the forefront of Eastern Airways service and on board all its flights, passengers receive a friendly welcome and a fully inclusive service, including complimentary drinks and snacks. There are no additional costs for hold baggage or choice of seat.

Eastern Airways operates over 800 flights a week from 17 airports including Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Durham Tees Valley, East Midlands, Humberside, Isle of Man, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Newcastle, Norwich, Oslo (Norway) Southampton, Stavanger (Norway), Stornoway and Wick.

Eastern Airways @ JLA - Robin Tudor and Roger Hage

Photo Caption: Robin Tudor, Liverpool John Lennon Airport's Head of PR (left) and Roger Hage, Eastern Airways' Ground Services Manager look forward to the new services starting.

Notes to editors:

*Punctuality information from http://www.flightontime.info/

Fares start from £69 one way, including taxes and charges.

Eastern Airways was named Europe’s number one regional airline 2006/7 ahead of 65 other airline members on Thursday 28 September 2006 at an awards ceremony in Barcelona. The airline won the European Regions Airline Associations’ (ERA) Gold Airline of the Year Award. Silver awards were also achieved by the airline in 2003/4 and 2004/5.

The aircraft fleet comprises of 50-seater Saab 2000 and 29-seater British Aerospace Jetstream 41 aircraft. In addition to its scheduled services, Eastern Airways operates a special to-order passenger aircraft charter service in the UK and mainland Europe for corporate and private clients.