UK low-fare carrier Flybe is to introduce an up to three times daily link between Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport from this autumn, returning a strategic hub connection to the network of the north west UK airport. The link will bring competition to the existing double daily flights of easyJet, which mainly serve the point-to-point demand and self-connecting passengers.

The new service will commence from September 7, 2015 with up to three flights per day, departing early morning, lunchtime and late afternoon and timed to coincide with many convenient onward long-haul connections available through Amsterdam providing one-stop itineraries to New York, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai and Toronto from Liverpool.

Although easyJet has been serving this city pair for over ten years the return of the hub link and connection option via Flybe’s codeshare and interline partners in Amsterdam is a major boost for John Lennon Airport and the Liverpool City Region and one that will be welcomed by the region’s business and leisure travellers. The connectivity was last offered by KLM in March 2012 when it ended its operation on the route after just three years.

This new route will add to Flybe’s existing Liverpool departures to the Isle of Man and Belfast City, with the airline operating a total of up to 120 weekly flights to and from Liverpool.

“Flybe is delighted to play a part in making it possible for Liverpool customers to access the world through Amsterdam and, just as importantly, make it easier for the rest of the world to come to Liverpool,” said Paul Simmons, chief commercial officer, Flybe.

Re-establishing a link to a ‘hub feed’ has been the Airport’s number one priority for some time. It is the most frequently requested route by stakeholders from across the region, according to its air service development team, market who recognise the strategic importance of this link that puts Liverpool on the global route network map and gives opportunities to connect it to the world once again.

“The importance of this route should not be underestimated and this is a big commitment by Flybe. Their decision to launch this route to Amsterdam will open up the opportunity for global access to and from the Liverpool City Region, said Andrew Cornish, chief executive officer, Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Liverpool has ambitions to establish itself as a national and international destination for visitors and investors alike and the hub connection plays a vital role as a gateway to its future prosperity. “The prospects for business travel to and from Liverpool are suddenly much stronger. The impact of a successful international hub connection upon our economy cannot be understated,” said Jenny Stewart, chief executive officer, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.

“This announcement will open up excellent opportunities for business travel to new export markets and some of the most prosperous and attractive economies of the world. Having a hub connection will also improve our attractiveness as a destination for inward investment,” she added.

In our analysis we highlight annual Segment and O&D Demand between Amsterdam and Liverpool over the past ten years and the clear additional passenger flows the former KLM service between March 2009 and March 2012 provided through connection options via the Netherlands’ largest air gateway.