UK regional charter carrier, LinksAir, is to expand into the scheduled market and will launch direct flights from Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport to two domestic UK destinations, providing a major fillip to bosses at the South Yorkshire facility. The independent carrier will introduce a regular link to George Best Belfast City Airport in Northern Ireland and a connection to Ronaldsway Airport on the Isle of Man from April using a 19-seat BAe Jetstream 31 and additional routes could be added in the future.

LinksAir was established in 2007 and is based in North Lincolnshire at Humberside Airport but also has aircraft and crew bases at Cardiff and on the Isle of Man. It has a well established reputation as a charter and ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, maintenance & Insurance) operator both on behalf of international charter brokers, corporate clients, government bodies & sport teams in addition to operating on behalf of other airlines and ticketing agents/sellers, but is new to the scheduled market.

It will introduce flights from Doncaster Sheffield on April 11, 2014 when it inaugurates flights to Belfast City, resurrecting a route previously served from the airport by Flybe between October 2006 and October 2011. LinksAir will offer a schedule aimed at the business traveller with two rotations each weekday and a single flight on a Sunday. The Isle of Man route will follow from April 14, 2014 and will be operated on a three times weekly basis, supporting business and leisure demand.

Speaking to The HUB ahead of the announcement, Steve Gill, managing director, Robin Hood Donacaster Sheffield Airport said: “This is fantastic news for the airport and for Yorkshire passengers. These two new routes are a great addition to our offering.”

“Belfast will be a fantastic business route with people being able to set off in the morning and be in Belfast city centre for the start of the business day. Our new three-time weekly service to the popular Isle of Man is Yorkshire’s only link to the island, famous for its world famous TT motorcycle race event and its rugged coastline and sandy beaches. It is also a convenient link for the financial services sector,” he added.

LinksAir to Launch Domestic Routes from Doncaster Sheffield

LinksAir has been discussing growth into the scheduled market for the past year and had originally intended to launch operations from London Oxford Airport late last summer, although it is understood that it was unable to formalise a commercial contract with the airport’s management to inaugurate operations. It was thought that the airline was planning to serve Belfast and the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey from the facility.

“We are delighted at LinksAir to be making Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield our fourth aircraft and crew base and supporting up to ten new jobs at the airport. We are confident that these routes to Belfast City and the Isle of Man will be well supported and have the ability to grow,” said Roger Hage, commercial manager, LinksAir.

“Belfast is a vibrant city and there is clear demand for services between Belfast and the Sheffield City Region. The Isle of Man has great appeal as both a short-stay leisure destination and for its unique place in motorsport culture,” he added.

According to official data from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), up to 40,000 annual passengers flew on the former Flybe route between Doncaster Sheffield and Belfast City. In the analysis below we highlight the annual passenger demand on the route and seat capacity on offer based upon historic flight schedules.