The UK's Aviation Minister has announced that the government will continue subsidizing the air route between City of Derry Airport and London for at least another year. The move will ensure connectivity on an important domestic travel corridor which will see up to 19 weekly return flights.

Derry-London route subsidy extended

The air route between City of Derry Airport (LDY) and London Stansted (STN) will retain its government funding until March 2024. On Friday, UK Aviation Minister Baroness Vere confirmed that the UK's Department for Transport and the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland (DfE) will commit £1.1 million ($1.35 million) each in 2023/24 to maintain the route.

Aviation Minister Baroness Vere said,

"Thousands of people and businesses depend on this crucial travel link, which is why we remain committed to securing the route. Our funding will maintain this vital connection between Derry/Londonderry and London, with 19 services operating every week for at least another year, supporting jobs, and providing a boost to Northern Ireland’s economy."  

The UK government has subsidized this route since 2017 to ensure connectivity between Derry and London remains financially viable - funding will continue under a Public Service Obligation (PSO), and the £1.1 million from the DfE is a ringfenced allocation specifically for the City of Derry Airport which cannot be put towards any other DfE policies.

Loganair will remain the operator

The route will continue to be served by Scottish regional carrier Loganair, which has operated flights since February 2019 following the collapse of Flybmi, which was awarded the initial PSO contract in May 2017. Loganair uses its fleet of Embraer ERJ-145 jets on this route, which can seat 49 passengers in economy.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Sandra Duffy, commented,

"This is extremely positive news and I am pleased to see this further commitment to promoting regional connectivity which will be widely welcomed, particularly by the local business community. Regular, reliable services to London are critical to the North West economy in terms of both business and leisure, and a key component of our strategic plans to make this region more appealing and accessible for international investors."

Loganair will operate 19 return flights per week over the summer and 16 weekly returns during the winter. On April 1st, a new domestic band came into force that cuts Air Passenger Duty by 50% on domestic routes within England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, further aiding the UK's domestic air travel market.

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Move to Heathrow?

A BBC report states that Loganair is considering switching from Stansted to London Heathrow (LHR), with the terms of the PSO allowing City of Derry Airport to connect to any one of six London airports. The airline has previously used London Southend to connect Derry to the UK's capital and looks set to make the Heathrow move after securing more slots at the airport.

Heathrow, London - February 20th 2023: Loganair ATR-72-600
Photo: CWSFoto/Shutterstock

The regional airline recently announced plans to expand its presence at London's busiest airport after obtaining 30 additional pairs of slots each week through a leasing agreement with British Airways. The slots will pass into Loganair's hands in May, and details of routes are to be announced in the coming days - don't be surprised if Loganair announces the move in the next week or two.

Have you ever flown between Derry and London? How was your flight experience? Let us know in the comments.

Source: BBC