NEWCASTLE International Airport has welcomed a brand new airline to the North East which will offer flights to Antalya.

SunExpress, which was founded in 1989 as a joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines and named World’s Best Leisure Airline by the prestigious World Airline Awards 2022, will operate up to three flights a week between Newcastle and the popular Turkish holiday region this summer.

Flights will depart twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays, increasing to three throughout summer with an additional Thursday departure added from May 2023.

Due to high demand, SunExpress has also announced it will further expand its services to operate beyond summer and during the winter 2023-24 period with flights now on sale.

Flights are available from £78.99 one-way and all tickets include at least 20kg of hold baggage as standard.

Chris Ion, aviation development manager at Newcastle International Airport, said: "We are delighted to welcome SunExpress to Newcastle International Airport. Antalya is one of the most popular and vibrant holiday destinations in the Mediterranean, offering year-round sunshine, golden beaches, excellent golf courses and hotels.

"The addition of SunExpress will offer more choice to passengers looking to take a well-earned holiday to Turkey this summer and we look forward to working with the airline to develop their services from Newcastle."

Peter Glade, SunExpress commercial director, said: "With the best leisure airline in the world, who wouldn’t want to get on that flight to Antalya? Our vibrant and diverse home city offers everything that makes for a successful holiday: great hospitality, crystal-clear water, beautiful beaches, excellent cuisine, and unbeatable value for money.

"With our new route from Newcastle to Antalya and expanded services to operate beyond summer, we continue to increase our footprint further in the UK."