The four times a day service will save business travellers valuable time, providing the shortest journey times to the heart of London.  Key figureheads in the business community have been quick to praise the new link.

Jamie Martin managing partner of law firm Ward Hadaway, said: "The announcement of this new flight is great news for the North East's business community.  Being able to fly directly into London City from Newcastle will be a huge benefit, saving precious time on existing alternatives.  The short commute will effectively bring Europe's financial capital to our doorstep, closing the North South divide further still for our businesses - convenience will now enable us to better compete for business.

"As chairman of the North East CBI I am also delighted to see another very useful route from Newcastle International Airport forging an important link with the capital's businesses.  This will undoubtedly assist the region's businesses in building relationships, bringing opportunities, all further enhancing the ability to compete."

Paul Woolston, senior partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Newcastle said: “We already use Eastern Airways’ network of services from Newcastle to reach our offices in Birmingham, Southampton and Aberdeen.  The introduction of the new London City route is not only excellent timing, but offers us convenience when travelling to our offices in the capital.”
 
Maggie Pavlou, president of the North East Chamber of Commerce and HR director of Newcastle-based Parkdean Holidays plc, said: “Time is of the essence for businesses and being able to get from A to B as quickly as possible is essential and so a Newcastle-London City route is a great idea. It also means companies in the City can be in the most beautiful part of Britain in next to no time. NECC would urge them to grasp this opportunity with both hands.”

Mick Thompson, partner at KPMG in Newcastle, said: “Much of the explanation of this region’s success is down to its outward looking approach to business.  People here are delighted with trade within the North East but many also keenly exploit opportunities from elsewhere in the UK and indeed internationally.  They increasingly demand transport links that support their need to contact and build relationships with a wide variety of shareholders in the capital, from suppliers to clients, not forgetting targets and in some cases the City investment community.

“Any development that improves the ability of people to get themselves wherever they need to be to best run and grow their business has got to be good news for both individuals and the wider marketplace.  Speaking for myself, while my calendar is dominated by client contact here in the North East, I still regularly travel to London and welcome any improvement to my journeys to and from the heart of the city.”

“We are thrilled to be making a piece of history by launching the first ever service between Newcastle and London City Airport,” said Keith Watson, Eastern Airways’ head of sales & marketing.  “Speed, time and frequent services are key for business travellers and we are strengthening business links by providing the fastest way for them to travel to Europe’s financial capital – Canary Wharf, Docklands, Central London and Westminster.” 

John Parkin, chief executive, Newcastle International Airport, said: “We very much welcome this latest addition to Eastern Airways’ growing network of routes from Newcastle.  We expect these services to be very popular and will provide the north east’s business and leisure travellers with another convenient air travel option when visiting London.”

Rob Andrew, director of rugby for Newcastle Falcons, said: “This new London City service will be especially useful to us as we often have urgent meetings in and around the city and Docklands area.  A number of corporations from London and the South East host and entertain clients at our games and this service will also be beneficial to them.”

London City Airport is connected to the London Transport system by the Dockland’s Light Railway allowing easy access to all parts of the capital.  Bank station can be reached in as little as 22 minutes from London City Airport.

Flights start on Monday 30 January and take just one hour 25 minutes.  Services depart from Newcastle at 7.05am, 10.40am, 2.10pm and 5.45pm, landing in London City at 8.30am, 12.05pm, 3.35pm and 7.10pm.  From London City, flights take off at 9am, 12.30pm, 4.05pm and 7.40pm arriving in Newcastle at 10.10am, 1.40pm, 5.15pm and 8.50pm.

Eastern Airways first started services from Newcastle in 2003 and operates a network of domestic services from the airport to Birmingham, Aberdeen, Southampton and the Isle of Man.