A direct flight to Teesside could soon become reality under new plans to connect offshore energy hubs across the UK.
Nordic aviation company LYGG is exploring a regional air service that would link Teesside with Norwich, the Humber, and Aberdeen to improve travel between key North Sea locations.
The route is being developed in response to demand from more than 50 companies in the offshore energy sector, who told LYGG that current travel options are limited, costly, and time-consuming.
Roope Kekäläinen, founder and chief executive officer of LYGG, said: "What we are hearing from clients is that the real demand is not necessarily between Norwich and Aberdeen, where services already exist.
"The demand is between Norwich, Humber, Teesside, and Aberdeen.
"Those are exactly the types of connections our model is designed to support."
LYGG plans to launch a new air service connecting Norwich, Humber, Teesside and Aberdeen. (Image: LYGG)
The service would focus on areas with concentrated offshore energy activity, helping workers travel efficiently between operational bases, ports, and project sites.
Currently, many employees face long road journeys or complex flight connections, adding unnecessary time and expense to routine travel.
Industry professionals raised the issue at the Southern North Sea (SNS) conference in Norwich, where LYGG heard first-hand about the difficulties of moving between energy hubs.
Mr Kekäläinen said: "Many delegates were driving five, six, or seven hours each way.
"By the time the event finished, they were exhausted and still had a long drive home ahead of them.
"People repeatedly told us they wished there was a direct connection."
He described one example involving Teesside, where workers travel via Amsterdam to reach Newcastle due to the lack of a direct alternative.
LYGG believes its business model, which tailors routes to proven demand, is well-suited to address these gaps.
The company say it works closely with customers to identify needs before committing capacity.
Mr Kekäläinen said: "We start with the days where demand is strongest and add frequency as usage grows.
"The feedback we are getting from the market is that Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the most important days because they align with crew changes and operational schedules."
The airline’s approach to pricing and capacity planning is also drawing interest from industry partners.
Rather than using fluctuating fares, LYGG collaborates with customers to forecast recurring travel needs, allowing organisations to reserve seats in advance and secure stable pricing.
The environmental benefits are also significant, with fewer long-distance car journeys required between offshore locations.
Mr Kekäläinen said: "If you have 19 people driving individually to the same destination and compare that with 19 people travelling together on one aircraft, the maths is quite straightforward."
LYGG has identified an operating partner for UK services and is continuing discussions with customers as it works towards a possible 2027 launch.
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The company already provides bespoke crew transfer solutions elsewhere in the North Sea, including a bespoke service connecting Bergen and the Shetland Islands, combining fixed-wing and helicopter operations, with Clarksons Port Services.
Jean Michel Rijken, aviation operations supervisor at Clarksons Port Services, praised LYGG’s "flexibility, reliability, and proactive communication," describing the service as "the ideal solution" for crew transport needs.
It has not yet been confirmed whether members of the public will be able to book seats, although that could depend on the final operating model and any spare capacity available.