Newcastle news: Flybe launches Heathrow and Belfast, Emirates adds flights

There are two bits of news today for anyone in the Newcastle Airport catchment area.

Flybe launching flights to Heathrow and Belfast

The first is that Flybe is launching two new routes from the airport.

Regular readers may notice that this announcement is a bit odd. Last Friday, Flybe cancelled its two new routes from Isle of Man, due to launch 48 hours later. The cancellations were blamed on the non-arrival of promised Dash 8 aircraft from its lessors.

And yet …. four days later, Flybe has announced two new routes from Newcastle. Where are these aircraft coming from?

The most interesting news is that Flybe is launching flights to Heathrow, going head to head with British Airways.

Flybe will using Terminal 2 at Heathrow and, because it is using small Dash 8 aircraft, it has to use bus gates. Will this tempt passengers away from British Airways, or is it simply being done to protect its Heathrow slots after the Isle of Man route was cancelled?

There will be one flight per day, weekdays only, in the late afternoon.

The second new route is between Newcastle and Belfast. It seems to be replacing the cancelled Isle of Man to Belfast service. There will be one flight per day (times vary), seven days per week.

Flights will start on both routes on 7th November.

Our last review of the Newcastle Airport lounge is here. You will struggle to get with a Priority Pass, however, as it is now being used by British Airways following the closure of BA’s dedicated Newcastle lounge. Emirates also uses this lounge.

Emirates to add additional Newcastle flights

If you want to travel further afield than Belfast or Heathrow, you will be pleased to know that Emirates has announced additional Newcastle flights.

From 1st December, the current weekday service will gain additional Saturday and Sunday flights.

Emirates using a Boeing 777 on this route, in a two class Economy and Business configuration.

Flight times were recently adjusted to allow a 1pm departure from Newcastle, arriving at 00.15, making it easier to connect to the overnight bank of onward departures from Dubai.

You can check pricing and timings on the Emirates website here.

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How to earn Emirates Skywards miles from UK credit cards (April 2025)

Emirates Skywards does not have a UK credit card.  However, you can earn Emirates Skywards miles by converting Membership Rewards points earned from selected UK American Express cards.

Cards earning Membership Rewards points include:

• American Express Preferred Rewards Gold (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 15,000 Emirates Skywards miles. This card is FREE for your first year and also comes with four free airport lounge passes.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

• The Platinum Card from American Express (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 50,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 37,500 Emirates Skywards miles

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

• American Express Rewards credit card (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 7,500 Emirates Skywards miles. This card is FREE for life.

Membership Rewards points convert at 4:3 into Emirates Skywards miles which is an attractive rate.  The cards above all earn 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 spent on your card, which converts to 0.75 Emirates Skywards miles

The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card earns double points (2 per £1) on all flights you charge to it, not just with Emirates but with any airline.