TRAVELLERS looking to visit Dundee and surrounding areas - golfers in particular take note - can now fly there directly from Belfast City Airport.

A new scheduled air service this week was launched at the end of last month by a Polish aviation company.

Flywhoosh.com is offering flights across the UK with a special focus on the needs of passengers who live in smaller cities or who wish to visit smaller communities with small, convenient airports close by. Launch routes to and from Dundee include George Best Belfast City Airport and Birmingham, operating at the start of each business day and again early each evening.

Whoosh is the UK trade name for White Eagle Aviation, a Polish airline with 13 years experience operating passenger services across Europe, though this is the company's first venture into the UK passenger market.

WEA President and CEO, Allan Fullilove said: "There is an increasing frustration in passengers who have to face a long drive followed by a long wait at a large airport in order to fly for 50 minutes to get to Birmingham for a meeting!

"We are the new local solution to a national problem! Busy roads and long waits are not good for business!

"Belfast and Dundee airports fit very well into the Whoosh route plans and the airline intends to ensure that people can enjoy increasingly convenient air services in the months ahead.

The Belfast - Dundee service commenced on May 29 and seats may be booked through the airline's website.

Another Eastern European airline with strong Polish connections, Wizz Air, has announced flights from Belfast International Airport to Poland's capital Warsaw on July 28 and Katowice - this service began on May 28.