This is how many flights are still flying out of Newcastle International Airport

New figures reveal that the total dropped from 202 in the week leading up to the March nationwide lockdown to just four in the seven days ending on April 19.

The only commerical service still operational flies to Amsterdam although the airport is also hosting one-off military, freight and medical flights.

The overall 98.02% fall in flights from Newcastle exceeds the 90.97 average reduction for 17 airports nationwide.

Three of the airports whose totals were measured – Leeds Bradford, Cardiff and Newquay – recorded no flights in the week ending Sunday.

A spokesperson for Newcastle Airport said: “Newcastle Airport will remain open for as long as the Government and airlines require.

“However, due to the significant reduction in the number of flights, we have taken the decision to limit the hours of operation and will keep this under review.

“We currently have one commercial flight per day, for four days a week, operating between Newcastle and Amsterdam, but the airport is also supporting one-off military, freight and medical flights.

“Throughout this challenging period we have been working closely with the Government and other authorities, including Public Health England, to ensure the operation is safe for passengers and staff.

“We welcome the measures taken so far by the Government to support businesses through this difficult time but hope there will be further help provided.

“We are very much looking forward to welcoming our passengers back when normal operations resume."

The new data, compiled by flight tracking website www.flightradar24.com, also reveals that flights at London Heathrow, the United Kingdom’s biggest airport, have fallen by just over 80% from 2,432 in the week ending March 22, the day before the lockdown was announced, to 464 in the week ending April 19.

Services from Edinburgh Airport, a popular departure point for many passengers from the North East, have plummeted over the same period by 97.25% from 581 to 16.

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