Loganair, Scotland’s airline, celebrates a Dundee home-coming today (May 21) with the first planes leaving on two new flights to Birmingham and Belfast.

Scotland’s longest serving airline is launching two new routes from Dundee Airport today, marking a return to the city where Loganair started its first scheduled air services 45 years ago.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson joined Loganair Chairman Scott Grier at the airport to welcome passengers off the first inbound flight from Birmingham at 10.30am and watch the departure of the inaugural outbound flight to Belfast at 11.00am.

Under a new franchise agreement with Flybe, Loganair has created a new base at Dundee Airport and now operates each weekday three return services between Dundee and Birmingham and one return service to Belfast City with a flight to both destinations every Sunday.

Unveiling a plaque to mark the occasion, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: “This is great news for Dundee and for Scotland. These routes will provide opportunities for both business and tourism, giving direct access to two of the UK’s key transport hubs.

“These services will help meet the growing demand of Dundee business travellers, students and tourists as well as bringing many benefits for the Scottish economy.

“It is also particularly pleasing to see Loganair return to Dundee – the airport where it all began all those years ago. The people of Dundee, Belfast and Birmingham can look forward to fast, efficient services as a result of this announcement. ”

The new routes bring a welcome boost for the region and mark the beginning of an expansion drive that will see Loganair introduce more and new services from Dundee Airport in the coming years.

Loganair hopes the new services will meet the growing demands of business travellers, students, tourists and residents travelling to and from Dundee and the surrounding area. 

Scott Grier, Chairman of Loganair, said: “After such a long absence from Dundee, I am delighted that Loganair is returning to the place where we started our first scheduled air services in 1963. 

“These two new flights to Birmingham and Belfast are a welcome addition to the growing network of air services we currently offer travellers in and around Scotland and we look forward to growing our offering in Dundee in the years to come.

“Our business model is based upon operating smaller aircraft with greater frequency. By providing greater choice and flexibility, business and leisure passengers can now do a return journey from Dundee to either Belfast or Birmingham in one day for a competitive price.”

Today’s launch has been welcomed by Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick and Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce Chef Executive Alan Mitchell.

Mr Mitchell said: “Loganair’s decision to move back to Dundee is not only a fantastic addition to our travel network but a real boost to the local economy. Connecting Dundee to Birmingham and Belfast creates a convenient, affordable travel network between three major UK cities and can only help to attract more business and tourism into the region.”

For over 40 years, Loganair has been providing air services throughout the Scottish Highlands and Islands and to Ireland and the Isle of Man and last year carried more than 500,000 passengers.

The two new Dundee routes are being operated under the Flybe banner, ahead of the company-wide franchise arrangement with Flybe which starts on 25 October. Tickets went on sale in March via www.flybe.com.