Flybe Takes Off From Doncaster Sheffield Airport with Announcement of New Route to Dusseldorf

31st March 2016

Passengers from Yorkshire's Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield have flown off to Paris Charles de Gaulle on Flybe's inaugural flight from Doncaster, part of an eight new route deal, as the airline announces a new business route to Dusseldorf that will be available for booking from 31st March, 2016.

This morning's Embraer 195 jet aircraft set off from Doncaster Sheffield Airport to Paris emblazoned with eye-catching Welcome to Yorkshire livery. The aircraft will promote the Yorkshire region to potential tourists across Europe and the UK, as part of the new deal that recently saw Doncaster Sheffield Airport and Flybe announced as the official airport and airline partner of the tourism agency respectively. Steve Gill, managing director of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, said: -We are delighted to see the first Flybe flight taking passengers to Paris this morning. Our new motorway link road, Great Yorkshire Way, opened just in time for the new influx of passengers, making journeys to the airport much quicker and bringing six million people to within an hour's drive. The introduction of these new routes will see Flybe deliver the largest number of departures from the Yorkshire airport, offering some 42 extra flights per week meaning 500,000 extra new flight seats are available to Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Jersey, Newquay, Malaga, Alicante and Faro. -We are also delighted to announce that today (24 March) Flybe has strengthened its commitment with a further new route and expansion of its Berlin services. New flights to Dusseldorf are set to commence for the winter season. Services to Berlin will also increase from four weekly to daily, due to unprecedented demand from the Sheffield City regions business community. Providing the Sheffield City Region with the business services it needs has long been an ambition and now that these services are here we must see the region voting with their feet and using them. Passenger demand to date has exceeded expectations. This is a phenomenal start but there is still much work to do, added Steve. Vincent Hodder, chief revenue officer, Flybe said -Today is a day we have been working towards for a long time with eight brand new routes starting over the next few days from a brand new base and we are delighted to announce details of yet another new route with a service to Dusseldorf. We are confident we have created a schedule that delivers attractive travel options that are both appealing and affordable as well as providing opportunities for onward global connections. Flybe prides itself on offering great value fares and a convenient, fast, reliable service to some very popular destinations. We look forward to welcoming all our new passengers on board. Sir Gary Verity, CEO of Welcome to Yorkshire said: -We are delighted to be able to work alongside Doncaster Sheffield Airport and Flybe to take the Yorkshire brand to the skies across Europe. The new services to Paris, Amsterdam, Dusseldorf and Berlin have the potential to bring an additional 65,000 international visitors to the region which can only be good news for the Yorkshire economy. -I'm sure the aircraft livery will be a real winner with cycling fans and of course this is befitting of Le Tour de Yorkshire on 30th April which will see the second stage finish in Doncaster passing by the airport. Sir Nigel Knowles, chair of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said: -It is fantastic to see these new routes starting from our airport, increased international connectivity is key to driving economic growth for the Sheffield City Region. In particular having routes to some of the biggest airport hubs in Amsterdam, Berlin and Paris will give businesses in our region better access to markets, boosting international trade from and into the City Region. I hope companies will embrace these new routes and spread the word about our City Region on their travels. The extra seats will see Doncaster Sheffield Airport experience double-digit growth in 2016 with the additional seats and growth from other incumbent carriers expected to take passenger figures from 900,000 in 2015 to 1.35 million in 2016. For further details visit www.robinhoodairport.com