PASSENGER flights could bring thousands of tourists from all over the world direct to Cumbria as soon as next year, says the boss of Carlisle Airport.

Andy Judge, director of the airport – which is owned by Stobart Air – has told the county’s tourism leaders that passenger flights could be landing at a revamped airport from destinations like London, Amsterdam and Paris.

The Stobart Group is currently investing around £25 million to develop the airport, which has existed as a light aircraft site since 1930, for freight and passenger travel.

“Being in the North West we need to have a proper functioning airport to say that the region, and Cumbria, is ready for business, and to support the region as a whole,” said Mr Judge.

“Once we have improved the facilities and brought in the airlines, then we shall be ready for bringing in pass-enger routes.”

Mr Judge believes the passenger flights, for planes that can carry between 50 and 100 people, will have huge benefits for business in the county.

“The Cumbrian economy would benefit in many ways. From a tourism point of view, it would generate more visits from the higher spending market – people who cannot spend a lot of time travelling.

“Also the connectivity with hubs in London and in Europe, with cities like Amsterdam, open up markets from overseas because they can get to the county relatively easily.”

The Lake District’s hotels, many of which have been investing heavily in corporate conference facilities, could also benefit.

“People who might not want to do a long drive might now consider coming here for conferences,” said Mr Judge. “So I can genuinely see it stimulating business in the region.”

The director said work would begin at the airport early next year and would create around 100 construc-tion jobs. He also said that when the airport was compl-eted a further 150 jobs would be created.

Rob Johnston, chief exec-utive of Cumbria Cham-ber of Commerce, said: “The business support for the airport is momentous.

"The reason is not about the volume of passengers, it is the statement that Cumbria is on the map and Cumbria is connected.

"We have got a great offer and the airport helps us make that offer more accessible.

“The Lake District does get plenty of visitors, but we are looking for those visitors who have a higher spend.

“The airport opens up other markets that the Lake District perhaps never had before.”

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