The airline announced in April that it would offer connections to London Heathrow from Derry, Dundee, Orkney and Shetland, in addition to its existing Isle of Man services.
Loganair said today that flights from Derry changed from London Stansted on Saturday May 6, while flights to Dundee left Heathrow for the first time in 40 years on Tuesday. Flights were previously between Dundee and London City airports.
The airline said: “The changes brought the first link between Derry City Airport and Heathrow, connected Sumburgh and Heathrow for the first time and restored an air link from Heathrow to Dundee last offered a generation ago.”
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Loganair CEO Jonathan Hinkles and Heathrow Director of Aviation Joanna Taso attended a ‘special gate party’ at Terminal 2 today as the airline welcomed passengers aboard its 9:45am maiden flight to Shetland.
Mr Hinkles said: “These routes really take Loganair’s regional connectivity provision to new heights and underscore our credentials as the UK’s largest regional airline. We are very grateful to the UK Government and BA for their support in securing these slots for national connectivity and it was great to see so many happy passengers boarding the new services today.
“Maintaining and improving regional connectivity is one of the main levers of a thriving economy and with these new routes we are offering business connections to the heart of London from some of the most remote communities in the UK.
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He added: “Similarly, we have opened the door to enhanced tourism for places like Derry, Dundee, Shetland and Orkney, while giving all our passengers access to the incredible connections on offer at Heathrow. It really is a game changer for regional commercial aviation.”
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Joanna Taso, Heathrow’s Director of Aviation, said: “We are delighted to celebrate Heathrow’s inaugural departure to Sumburgh via Dundee. Loganair’s new domestic routes to Dundee and the City of Derry will open up vital connectivity and global business opportunities through Heathrow, the UK’s gateway to the world. Its expanded operations are supported by our domestic passenger discount and demonstrate Heathrow’s long-standing commitment to regional connectivity.”