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Airport is all aboard for a bite of the Big Apple at last

(left to right) Jayesh Raya from United Airlines and the Waddington family celebrated with barbershop quartet Chordially Yours, who entertained passengers at Newcastle Airport before they boarded United's inaugural flight UA159 to New York/Newark.
(left to right) Jayesh Raya from United Airlines and the Waddington family celebrated with barbershop quartet Chordially Yours, who entertained passengers at Newcastle Airport before they boarded United's inaugural flight UA159 to New York/Newark.

The first non-stop scheduled flights to the United States from North East England have taken off.

Newcastle International Airport held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday to welcome United Airlines’ service to New York. Flights will operate five days a week between the Ponteland airport and Newark Liberty International.

Airport Chief Executive David Laws said: “This is a very proud moment. The inaugural flight to New York is the culmination of many years of work.”

United’s Managing Director Sales Bob Schumacher said: “We’re delighted to offer the people of the North East convenient, non-stop flights to the United States for the first time.”