Chamber CEO Alison Henderson said “The city region's air link with London is an important part of our travel infrastructure which gives local companies direct access to the commercial heart of the UK and vice-versa.
“The experience of flying in and out of Dundee’s airport is hugely convenient, very customer friendly and one which we must support and retain.
The Chamber carried out extensive research in the last year to gather business opinion and we know that businesses definitely welcome the reinstatement of the Dundee to London City route, and the introduction of a Belfast route too.
“The results were clear and overwhelmingly in favour of London City Airport as the preference for business travellers who need to be able to get to do business in London, as much as using the London City to Dundee service to encourage their own customers to come to Scotland.”
“Business travellers need a good, reliable service which will, with quick connections from landing to their destination, allowing them to be in central London for close to 9am, and giving them a full day before having to leave to make their connections to travel north.”
”It is clear that this depth of support by government cannot continue if it is not backed by strong and sustained use by the community, including businesses supporting the flights and the opportunities they offer to reach customers in the South of England and beyond.
"I would therefore urge companies to support, promote and use our local airport."
Dundee Airport will offer flights to Belfast and London City from early next year.
Airline Loganair has confirmed that it will switch the city’s route to the UK capital from Stansted to London City on March 29 and is introducing bigger planes in anticipation of greater demand for the flights.
And it will re-introduce a route between Dundee and Belfast in April, eight years after flights between the two cities last operated.
Flights to and from London City will operate twice a day on weekdays and once a day on Sundays.
New aircraft will also be introduced to the service, with an ATR42-500 replacing the Saab 340 currently used.
This will increase seat capacity from 33 to 48 seats on every flight.
The new aircraft also more environmentally friendly.
Tickets are already on sale. A lead in fare of £59.99 each way means flights are £10 cheaper than the standard return fare to Stansted.
Loganair chief executive Jonathan Hinkles said: “There are real benefits for our customers in this move to fly directly into UK’s capital, not least being the reduced travel time to the heart of the city.”
Mark Flynn, deputy convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee said: “Our air link with the UK’s commercial centre is an important part of our travel infrastructure and a positive piece in the delivery of a strong and sustainable economy that will provide jobs, retain graduates and make Dundee a magnet for new talent.”
The Belfast flights will begin in April with a lead-in fare of £44.99 one way.
Flights will take off from Thursday 2 April and will operate up to six times each week, daily except Saturdays, during the summer season and three times each week during the winter season.
Mr Hinkles added: “There are currently over 2,000 Northern Ireland students at Dundee University and strong golf ties with famous Open Championship courses at each end of the route in St Andrews and Royal Portrush.
“Today’s announcement of an enhanced London service and a new Belfast link will provide a very significant boost for Dundee Airport, and we’re delighted to be building on Loganair’s long-standing presence at the airport with these exciting developments.”
Scottish Government transport secretary Michael Matheson said: “Not only do the services to London City and Belfast help business travellers but it also makes it easier for visitors to get a taste of the fantastic tourist offering in and around Dundee.”
UK Government Minister for Scotland Douglas Ross said: “We are working hard to ensure that Scotland and the whole of the UK prospers, this includes supporting economic growth in Dundee and the wider region by investing a transformative £150 million through the Tay Cities deal and providing £5 million for the opening of the innovative V&A Dundee.
“These flights will help more people enjoy what this fantastic part of Scotland has to offer.”
Credit to The Courier and Stefan Morkis
Dundee Airport Ltd
Highland and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) is a public corporation wholly owned by the Scottish Ministers.
