A TINY UK airport could soon be launching more flights to Europe, providing new links to the wider continent.
The airport currently has a few links to Europe already, but the closure of a nearby port means it could be set to take on a host of new routes.
AlamyHumberside airport is one of the smallest in the country[/caption]
Humberside airport in North Lincolnshire is one of the smallest airports in the UK, but still has several international flights available for holidaymakers.
There’s a KLM service to Amsterdam Schiphol as well as three flights a week to Esbjerg in Denmark.
In the summer, the airline increases its services, with one weekly flight to Majorca with TUI.
There are also two weekly flights to Bourgas in Bulgaria, ran by BH Air (Balkan Holidays).
Meanwhile, during the winter, several flights to Lapland are arranged for passengers as well.
Reykjavik, Newquay, Aberdeen and Jersey are among other destinations.
AlamyIt has flights to places like Majorca, Bulgaria, Lapland and Reykjavik[/caption]
However, the number of destinations could expand soon, due to the closure of Doncaster Sheffield airport.
The airport was forced to close due to an “insufficient lack of current or prospective revenue streams”.
Flights to popular destinations from Doncaster included Tenerife and Lanzarote.
However, the airport was hit hard when airline Wizz Air pulled out, leaving just TUI flights in operation and eventually leading to its closure in 2022.
AlamyThe airline could expand following the closure of Doncaster Sheffield airport[/caption]
Last month, councillor Claire Homes from East Riding Council said she hoped the airport would be able to expand.
She told Hull Live: “Following the closure of Doncaster Airport, it’s anticipated that Humberside Airport will become a focus.
“Demand from both leisure and business travellers is expected to increase, which will maximize the opportunities for Humber residents and businesses.
“The council will continue to liaise with neighbouring authorities about this, and we will look to promote the site. We will highlight Humberside Airport as a key resource.”
However, it could find life difficult, even if it expands, with smaller airports struggling to stay open in recent years.
David Bryon, ex-director of BMI Baby, warned more regional airports could face similar problems.
He said: “What I think was most alarming is, we saw an airport [Doncaster Sheffield] actually shut down with similar levels to Cardiff.
“Doncaster was carrying similar pre-pandemic passenger levels of 1.5 million.”
He warned unless airports can get above 2-4million passengers per year, it will be difficult for them to “break even, let alone make money”.
The Telegraph’s Nick Trend also warned: “[Domestic airports] seem to be much less resilient to economic shocks than their giant rivals […] the pandemic, and the ongoing cost of living crisis have served up a succession of blows.”
Meanwhile, Manston Airport in Kent is being rebuilt as a cargo airport, which could lead to passenger flights to destinations including Cyprus and Spain.
And Plymouth Airport hopes to reopen after being closed for more than a decade.
WIKIMEDIAHumberside airport is in North Lincolnshire[/caption] Read More