Eastern Airways is expanding the number of routes it provides from Southampton Airport to six with the announcement that it will reconnect the south coast of England to Belfast City.

From 23 March 2020, the UK regional airline will provide up to seven flights a week from Southampton to Belfast City Airport, which was a former Flybe route. The carrier has already moved rapidly to commence services from Southampton to Manchester and Newcastle, both initially at 11 flights a week along with a new route to Teesside International Airport in the north east of England with 11 flights a week.

For many years it has provided a Southampton to Leeds Bradford service with up to 15 flights a week, and from 27 April 2020 the carrier will offer a Southampton link to Aberdeen via Teesside International.

Roger Hage, general manager of commercial and operations at Eastern Airways said: “Adding a Belfast City service from Southampton Airport, along with our new Manchester and Newcastle services which we started here, following the launch to Teesside, is a significant expansion with up to 70 departures a week in total. We are ensuring Southampton is reconnected to the regions throughout England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.”