Flights to Spain from Humberside Airport have recommenced for the summer season.
For the second year in a row, the airport is offering weekly services to Alicante and Palma, Majorca, in partnership with travel company JetXtra.com
And this year, passengers will be travelling onboard British Airways planes – in the first regular service provided by the national carrier out of Humberside.
Last year, JetXtra used Spanish airline Volotea.
The first flight of the year departed for Alicante, the gateway to Benidorm, at lunchtime on Saturday, with a capacity 76 passengers onboard the state-of-the-art Embraer 170 aircraft.
Weekly flights to Palma will recommence in July in time for the school holidays.
JetXtra.com director Daniel Reilly said: “Last year went really well and once again the region has shown its support for the services we are offering from the airport – our first flight being sold out by February is testament to that.
“Our new deal with British Airways will mean customers flying with us this year can expect the highest levels of service and comfort onboard one of the most modern regional jets in the world.”
Among the passengers jetting off to Alicante was Melanie Brumption, 47 of Barnetby.
She was travelling with her mum Georgina, her children Harriet and Paul, and Paul’s girlfriend Sophie.
She said: “We flew to Alicante in October and we had to go from Leeds-Bradford. If we could we would have gone from Humberside. It’s fantastic for us as we are only a few miles away.”
Paul Litten, commercial director at Humberside Airport, said: “We are delighted to see JetXtra providing services to Alicante and Palma for the second year in a row. Following feedback they have decided to go with British Airways and a Saturday departure, which clearly is an attractive proposition for passengers in the region.
“The airport is an important piece of local infrastructure and we promise to continue to work hard to bring more tour operators back to the airport over the next three or four years.
“Our focus in the next few years will be on destinations such as Corfu, Tenerife and Malaga. We are also looking at winter sun destinations.”
