Passengers say bonjour to EMA-Paris service

Eastern Airways – the independent regional airline based at Humberside Airport – is set to launch daily flights between East Midlands Airport and Paris.

The operator will run flights to Paris Orly from 14 April in conjunction with Air France.

25 crew and engineering roles will be created as a result.

Passengers will travel on a low-emission 72-seat ATR aircraft – the first to be based at East Midlands Airport for Eastern Airways.

Roger Hage, commercial director at Eastern Airways, said: “We are delighted to be entering into this cooperation with Air France and opening up connectivity to Europe’s second biggest city for both business and leisure travelers and restoring direct access year-round to France.”

Fahmi Mahjoub, general manager for the UK & Ireland at Air France/KLM, said: “This new cooperation between Air France and Eastern Airways is a very positive move and comes in response to the growing appetite for travel to Paris that we have noticed from all over the United Kingdom.”

East Midlands Airport MD Steve Griffiths, said: “Today’s news is a very significant development for East Midlands Airport (EMA) and the region we serve.

“This partnership with Eastern Airways and Air France opens up the world to our passengers bringing global destinations such as Africa, the Caribbean and South America within one-stop of EMA.

“Ongoing connectivity via a major European hub has been a strategic aim of this airport for some time and I’m thrilled that this opportunity has arisen.”

Eastern Airways is also launching services to Paris from Southampton and Cardiff.