Flybe to start London City Airport routes

Flybe is to offer flights from London City Airport after signing a five-year deal.

The airline will offer services to and from Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin, Inverness and Exeter.

Flights are due to begin on 27 October, and Flybe estimates the routes will carry about 500,000 passengers a year.

"Today's announcement is a significant landmark in the re-birth of Flybe," said the airline's chief executive, Saad Hammad.

"We are delighted to re-enter the London market at London's most convenient airport."

Exeter-based Flybe is seeking to revive its fortunes after losses forced it to shrink its operations.

In the past couple of years, it has shed hundreds of jobs. In November last year, it announced plans to close several of its regional bases.

It also sold 25 pairs of arrival and departure slots at London Gatwick to Easyjet for £20m.

However, in its last set of results, there were signs of improvement, as it reported pre-tax profits of £13.8m for the six months to 30 September, compared with a loss of £1.6m a year earlier.

Earlier this year, the airline raised £150m to help fund expansion.

Flybe currently operates 171 routes serving 16 countries.

As part of the London City Airport deal, Flybe also plans to introduce to services to European ski resorts, as well as to destinations in France and northern Spain.