THE first flight from Southend Airport to City of Derry Airport will take off this weekend. 

The route, operated by Scottish firm Loganair, will launch on Sunday. 

Dubbed a Government public service obligation, the previous route, from Stansted, was cancelled in February after the demise of Flybmi and was initially re-installed after Loganair stepped in.

But following a tender process, Southend was chosen as the London base.

The launch coincides with Derry-Londonderry’s Halloween festival.

 

While Derry-Londonderry is already a burgeoning tourist city, it is also less than an hour’s drive from the world famous Giant’s Causeway.

And if you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you’ll also be keen to make the hour-long drive to the Dark Hedges.

Glyn Jones, CEO of Stobart Aviation, said: “We are delighted to launch another air-link with Loganair at London Southend Airport, which is just in time for Halloween.

"Derry-Londonderry has an abundance of history and culture for passengers to explore and we are hoping to attract more travellers from Northern Ireland, who can enjoy are quick and easy rail and bus links into central London.”