HOLIDAYMAKERS and the business community have been given a major boost with an air link to Denmark unveiled today.
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) will operate a six-day-a-week service from Humberside Airport to Copenhagen.
The deal is a major coup for Humberside and is being linked to the region's growing reputation as a European renewables hub. Denmark is one of the world's leading countries in the renewables industry.
SAS's direct service from Humberside to the Danish capital is scheduled to start on October 28.
The flights will operate six days a week. Tickets will be on sale from Monday, with one-way flights starting from £103, including taxes and charges.
SAS said, with a growing renewables industry, which includes Siemens's proposed wind turbine plant in Hull and Able UK's development on the south bank, it was the "perfect time" for the airline to arrive at Humberside.
Hans Dyhrfort, SAS's regional general manager for Western Europe, said: "With more than five million people living within reach of the airport, the Humber region is an important northern hub and area of development for SAS.
"And with the area on its way to becoming the renewable energy capital of the UK, now is the perfect time to strengthen ties with Denmark and the Nordic region.
"We are pleased to offer pas sengers the choice and flexibility to fly direct from Humberside to Copenhagen or onwards to many other destinations in Scandinavia and Northern Europe".
Paul Litten, Humberside International Airport's commercial director, said tourists and businesspeople would benefit from the service.
He said: "The announcement of a new, high-profile route to Copenhagen is great news for Humberside International Airport, as we will be providing the only non-stop, direct service to Scandinavia from the Humber, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire region."
"The new service will not only benefit business travellers heading to the city of Copenhagen and those connecting onwards to a comprehensive network of Scandinavian cities, but also leisure travellers taking short breaks in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Baltic countries.
"SAS's commitment underlines their view that the Humber, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire region is a place to do business, and this service will provide superb connectivity to Scandinavia and beyond.
"Today is a major milestone, attracting Scandinavian Airlines to Humberside as we develop a range of convenient services for those five million passengers within an hour's drive of the airport."
It is thought Humberside Airport is hoping the move by SAS will attract interest from other European carriers, which could open up future links to central and northern Europe.
