Eastern Airways Launches the First Air Service from Southampton to Northern Ireland

Eastern Airways is launching the first air service from Southampton to the busiest airport in Northern Ireland.

On 9th February, the first daily flights to Belfast International Airport are expected to launch, just in time for the school half-term break.

The new service will be run by 72-seat ATR aircraft, and one-way tickets will start at £59.99.

A daily Southampton-Dublin service and multiple daily Southampton-Manchester flights are complemented by the Belfast route.

Prior to the pandemic, two carriers withdrew from the Southampton-Belfast City route, and Eastern Airways took over as the operating carrier.
This year, the same airlines were back in Belfast City, but one has already ceased service, leaving Aer Lingus as the lone carrier.

Eastern said: “We will again support the economic prosperity and stability, however via Belfast International to ensure a sustainable approach to capacity.”

Commercial director Roger Hage said: “This is a major step in growing connectivity to the North of Ireland from our Southampton base. 

“The recent reduction in operator capacity and choice from Belfast airports and a growing network and ambition of Belfast International airport offers an opportunity to meet the burgeoning demand for connecting the two nations especially with such strong onward connectivity. 

“Adding the new Northern Irish destination of Belfast International significantly improves critical connectivity between the UK’s regions. 

“We continue to ensure the right services are being offered, so growing our English south coast hub network and capacity to a high demand capital city in both directions is a crucial part of increasing connectivity and aiding economic recovery to both business and the UK’s vital tourism sector.”

Matt Hazelwood, chief commercial officer of Southampton airport owner AGS Airports, said: “The introduction of this first-ever daily service to Belfast International airport from Southampton is tremendous news.”

Belfast International business development director Uel Hoey added: “Eastern Airways  will add a completely new string to the bow at Belfast International airport as a long-established and successful UK regional airline, and their fleet gauge and flexibility will potentially in time open up a range of new regional destinations for the convenience of the travelling public which have hitherto been of insufficient market size to be offered by the current low cost jet operator partners.”

A new Humberside-Esbjerg service, an East Midlands-Newquay connection, an expanded three-times-daily Gatwick-Newquay service, as well as an increase in frequency between Newquay and Humberside and Newcastle and Aberdeen, were all announced last week by Eastern Airways.