UK regional carrier Eastern Airways has this past week celebrated the 10th anniversary of its domestic UK air link between Birmingham and Newcastle, which provides an important business link for commuters connecting between the Midlands and the North East of England. The airline entered the market in 2003 following British Airways’ decision to withdraw from the route.

Over 17,000 flights have been operated between Birmingham and Newcastle since Eastern Airways started the route and currently up to 24 flights are offered each week with a schedule tailored to the needs of the business traveller. The link is understood to be used by a wide cross section of businesses including those from engineering, law, finance, government, IT, communications and manufacturing industry sectors, helping to forge strong business links between the two regions.

“The 10th anniversary of this route shows our commitment to the region by providing a long established, convenient air service to further strengthen important business links between the Midlands and the North East. Our schedules and timings between Birmingham and Newcastle allow for day return trips, saving business travellers valuable time at a reasonable price,” said Kay Ryan, commercial director, Eastern Airways.

The milestone was celebrated at both ends of the route on April 11, 2013 with special cake presentations in front of the BAe Jetstream 41 that operates on the link. “Eastern Airways offer an established and reliable service that provides this very important link from the Midlands to the North East,” said Martyn Lloyd, commercial director, Birmingham Airport.

Chris Sanders, aviation development director at Newcastle International Airport added: “The Birmingham route also provides an important link to a number of other cities such as Coventry, Milton Keynes, Gloucester, Worcester, Wolverhampton and Oxford making it easier to do business across a whole swathe of England.”

In the table below we look at capacity and O&D demand on the domestic route. Since 2005 overall seat capacity has declined by 32.1 per cent, O&D traffic has slipped in relation to this reduction with a 30.4 per cent fall, while average one-way air fares have fallen approximately 14.0 per cent having reached a peak in 2008. Eastern Airways is the sole operator on the route with its 29-seat Jetstream 41 probably the largest sized aircraft that could serve the market given the frequency required to meet business demand.