Airline will resume London link

The airline plans to begin services later this year

A new airline is due to resume commercial flights between Durham Tees Valley Airport and London.

The airport, near Darlington, lost services to London in February, when bmi axed its Heathrow route.

Excelsis Airways says it hopes to create several hundred jobs when it launches three flights a day to London City Airport from September.

Excelsis will target premium and business passengers and hopes to expand its destinations once established.

A company spokesman said: "When it launches later this year Excelsis will offer both the business and leisure community a speedy, comfortable, convenient link from the North East into the heart of the capital.

"As it continues to grow, Excelsis will be announcing other regional destinations around the UK.

"Over the next few years the airline, which will be based in the Tees Valley area, will create several hundred jobs."

The company plans to buy up to 4 Bombardier q400 turboprop aircraft, which will be based at Durham Tees Valley.