Post by Liverpool to London on Dec 3, 2003 8:59:55 GMT -5
BELGIAN airline VLM will this morning sign the new deal to restore Liverpool's air link with London.
Airline bosses will join with representatives from Liverpool John Lennon Airport (JLA) and The Mersey Partnership at the airport to officially announce the five-times daily service to London City starting in January.
News of the deal was revealed exclusively in yesterday's Daily Post.
The announcement will mark a victory for the our Fight for a Flight campaign which for three months has been battling to have the link restored.
For VLM it is the second attempt in less than 10 years at operating a service between the two airports.
The previous route floundered in 1994. Links from London City into the capital at that time were poor but are now vastly improved.
Business and community leaders in Merseyside have continued to speak of their delight at the success of the campaign.
Liverpool City Council chief executive David Henshaw said last night: "A frequent, reliable air link with the capital is vital if we are to continue Liverpool's renaissance and attract more businesses and jobs to the city.
"The business community and the city council have been lobbying hard for this with the help of the Daily Post's campaign, and the fact that VLM are committing themselves to a regular service is a massive vote of confidence in Liverpool."
And Yoko Ono, after whose husband the airport is named, said: "This is great news. I am very pleased that Liverpool will have its air link to London reinstated. As you know, I was praying for it."
The Mersey Partnership has also been instrumental in bringing the route back to JLA.
Chairman Roy Morris said: "It's great that we can easily fly from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to so many of Europe's capital and leading cities - and the news that very shortly that list will include London too is marvellous for the Liverpool region.
"I'm looking forward to welcoming the airline later today and introducing them to the business community that TMP represents and who have lobbied so hard for this decision.
"As a business person with a major office in London this service will be invaluable and I know that many colleagues in the business world feel the same."
The Friends of Liverpool Airport, which also backed the campaign from Day One, sent its congratulations but insisted it was important to continue the push for slots at Heathrow.
Vice-chair Keith Hardwick said: "I am absolutely delighted and I hope that the route will be a great success.
"I'm also pleased to see the campaign for landing slots at Heathrow will not stop."
* LIVERPOOL'S tourism and hotel industry last night also welcomed the new service and echoed the Daily Post's"use it or lose it" call.
Liverpool-based hotelier Paul Feather said the announcement was "phenomenal news" and said he was pleased there would now be an alternative to the "disgraceful" Virgin Trains.
Mr Feather, pictured, added: "What we need now is for all those Scousers who talk about being Scousers to actually use it.
"I used to use the old British Midland flight from Liverpool to London and even then there were people from Merseyside using Manchester.
"The tremendous enthusiasm shown by the managers at Liverpool Airport is no good unless the service has customer support."
Bill Heckle, boss of Cavern City Tours, also urged Merseyside people to make it a success.
He said: "I think this is great news and it is nice the Daily Post's campaign has been listened to and Liverpool is being taken seriously."
Liverpool-born former GMTV presenter and businesswoman Esther McVey said: "This is fantastic news for Liverpool.
"I'm especially delighted because London City is definitely the best airport for business people."