Carlisle Airport: Destinations, flights and setbacks

The first passenger flight has taken off from Carlisle Lake District Airport, more than a year after the latest launch date.

Loganair have began operating from the airport for the first time in 25 years, flying to three destination; Belfast, Dublin and London Southend.

  • Dublin

  • London Southend

  • Belfast

The airport will handle up to 500 passengers a week with 14 return flights.

It's been designed as a way of opening the door to the Lake District, as well as making the north of England and border with Scotland more accessible to both visitors and business people.

Since 1961, the airport has opened and closed and this time round its launch has been postponed twice and is currently 13 months behind schedule.

Passenger flights were originally due to begin in June 2018.However, the airport announced a shortage of qualified Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) which meant they would be delayed.

Departure lounge, Carlisle Airport. Credit: ITV Border

The first flight left the airport at 8am and arrived in Dublin less than an hour later.

Not everyone is pleased with the decision to open the airport, supporters from climate change activists, Extinction Rebellion, have threatened to protest on the day.

The return of commercial flights to Carlisle was celebrated with a series of events throughout the day including a giant water fountain display, a church blessing with an array of the county's top politicians and business people.

  • The airport fire service made a water arch for the plane to drive under before taking off to Dublin.