BMI regional has announced that it will begin twice daily flights from City of Derry Airport and London Stansted on Sunday March 26…
The new service will include two return flights each day, except for Saturdays which will have one flight each way.
The Government has pledged almost £4 million towards the new route.
The £3.8 million state support package comes after Ryanair pulled its City of Derry to Stansted.
The airline was chosen following a competitive tender process by Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Government have committed to funding the route until 2019.
Aviation Minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon said: “The UK Government has worked closely with Derry City and Strabane District Council to protect this important route to City of Derry Airport.
“£3.8 million UK Government funding will allow 13 return flights to connect Londonderry to London every week. The new service will allow business passengers to get to central London and complete a full day’s work before returning home.”
The funding has been drawn from the Government’s Regional Air Connectivity Fund, which can be used to protect regional air connections to London which may otherwise be lost.
Last year, the Northern Ireland Executive pledged £7 million to help support Londonderry’s troubled airport.
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