Loganair will operate eight flights per-day across the working week and a total of 12 at weekends, connecting the Province to Cumbria and the Lake District, which receives 45 million visitors per year.
The routes will go on sale from Monday March 12, with all services commencing on June 4 when CLDA plans to launch commercial and business passenger flights for the first time since 1993.
Kate Willard, Head of Corporate Projects at Stobart Group, said: “Stobart Group is committed to delivering a brilliant air travel experience across the UK and Ireland. We are therefore delighted to be announcing flights with Loganair connecting London, Belfast and Dublin with Carlisle and the Lake District.
“There is huge demand from London, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to visit Carlisle, which is home to major businesses and serves as a gateway to the Lake District, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and South Scotland.”
The route to Dublin also offers additional connectivity ease to travellers as they will be able to clear US immigration checks in the comfort of Dublin Airport at Terminal 2 – meaning they will land State side as a hassle free domestic passenger.
Jonathan Hinkles, Managing Director of Loganair, said: “We’re delighted to become the first operator at the new Carlisle Lake District Airport, and will be opening up Loganair’s services to a whole new range of customers. With frequent services on each of the three routes, we have every confidence that these new flights will transform access to and from the Lake District for many thousands of customers each year.”
Gill Haigh, Managing Director of Cumbria Tourism, said: “The new flights from Carlisle Lake District Airport will be a major boost for Cumbria’s connectivity and our £2.72billion tourism industry.
“We welcomed 45 million visitors to the county last year, but a large proportion were day trippers to the Lakes. Our marketing strategy has a key focus on encouraging visitors to stay in the county as a whole.
“New flights though Carlisle will create alternative travel options and Cumbria Tourism is working in partnership with the Airport to encourage new and existing visitors to enjoy more of our iconic landscapes and world-class experiences.”
