Stobart Air (Dublin International) has been given the go-ahead to begin scheduled flights out of Carlisle with services to Ireland and London on the cards. Andrew Tinkler, the CEO of Stobart Group, said weekly ATR42-300 flights to Dublin International, operated under the Aer Lingus Regional banner, will commence next summer.
“The idea is you can fly from Carlisle to Dublin, go fast through [US] customs in Dublin and on to an Aer Lingus transatlantic flight, and walk through domestic [terminal on arrival on US soil],” he told The Guardian.
Twice weekly flights to London Southend will also launch later next year. Both Carlisle and Southend airports are owned by the Stobart Group.
Stobart Group acquired Carlisle airport on a 150 year lease in May 2009 and had planned to spend GBP20.36million (USD38.4million) on developing a 36'600sqm freight-distribution centre and on the resurfacing of the airport's runway for passenger flights and air freight.
However, following numerous court cases opposing its redevelopment plans for the airport, the Group was finally able to get official permission from the Carlisle City Council in August this year.
"Planning permission has been secured for the development of the airport and we have commenced a business planning exercise designed to attract airlines, passengers, and related operations to the airport," a filing to the Dublin Stock Exchange said.
Stobart Air says it expects work on the project, which also includes car parking and a fire station, to start before the end of 2014.
