Four new flights a week in the summer are flying from Norwich to Exeter giving people in East Anglia a gateway to Devon and Cornwall.

The new service, announced by Loganair, takes one hour and five minutes by 49-seat Embraer 145 jets with flights operating from July 12.

Loganair also brought forward the date of its Edinburgh-Norwich services, originally planned for September, to start again on July 12.

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The new flights to Exeter will operate on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and cost from £49.99 one way.

Times leave Norwich at 8.55am arriving in Exeter for 10am and return flights leave at 6.05pm, arriving back in Norwich for 7.15pm.

It comes as Norwich Airport announced a new schedule of holiday flights starting next month.

Loganair has postponed its first service to Jersey from Norwich, however, which now starts May 22 instead of May 9.

Norwich Airport managing director Richard Pace said: “We’re delighted Loganair is re-establishing the link between Norwich and Exeter. We also welcome Loganair’s decision to restart the route to Edinburgh in July.

“In launching these routes, Loganair is putting its trust in the UK government to deliver on its promise to reduce domestic Air Passenger Duty which is critical to the recovery and sustainability of domestic flying."

The flights will move to Monday and Friday from September onwards.

Loganair chief executive Jonathan Hinkles said: “We are very pleased to expand our commitment to Norwich and Exeter with this direct service, connecting two important UK business and leisure locations.

“The need for domestic connectivity has been clearly recognised by the UK government with its stated intention to reform Air Passenger Duty on domestic flights. There is no doubt the high level of APD has historically rendered such links as Norwich to Exeter economically difficult to sustain."

Exeter Airport operations director Stephen Wiltshire said: “It’s marvellous that Loganair is re-establishing the link between Exeter and Norwich, which is a key route for business, tourism and reconnecting family and friends kept apart by the pandemic."

The new Exeter service also comes after Loganair scrapped its service to Newquay less than two months after announcing it back in 2019.