Flights to Paris resume from Newcastle Airport as bosses mark important step in rebuilding of international travel

The flights will operate every Monday and Friday initially, before increasing in frequency throughout the summer months.

As the peak summer season approaches, passengers will have the opportunity to connect daily via Paris to up to 150 destinations worldwide through Air France’s onward network.

Leon McQuaid, Head of Aviation Development for Newcastle International Airport added, "Connectivity is extremely important to the economy of the North East therefore we are very pleased to see Air France returning to the region.

"The restart of the route not only provides vital connectivity for those who need to travel for essential reasons, but also marks an important step in the rebuilding of international travel.

“As restrictions are eased we are looking forward to welcoming even more passengers back to the terminal. The safety of our staff and passengers is our number one priority and we have worked hard to implement a Ten Point Plan of safety measures to ensure the terminal is a safe environment for all.”

Current lockdown restrictions mean people can only travel abroad for a small number of legally permitted reason such as for work and holidays are currently prohibited.

The Government says it will look at resuming international travel no sooner than May 17.

Benedicte Duval, General Manager for UK & Ireland, Air France said: “Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis, Air France has been adapting its network and flight schedule in line with government regulations and demand. As we hopefully start to see the end of this challenging period, we will be delighted to welcome our North East based customers back onboard, once travel restrictions are lifted.

"As we all adapt to this new environment, I can assure you that all Air France staff, both on the ground and on board, are committed to guaranteeing our passengers the highest levels of health & safety.

“To ensure this, we have introduced Air France Protect, which is our commitment to making customer’s trips safe and flexible. As part of this we have introduced a fully flexible commercial policy, allowing our customers to book with confidence.”

The flight schedule is subject to change.

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