Long-anticipated flights from Teesside Airport to Malaga will take off next year, it has been confirmed.

Ryanair, which already operates routes including Majorca, Faro and Corfu will launch the new route on March 31, 2025.

It will see two flights a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, take off from Teesside to the Spanish airport.

Flights are not yet on sale on the Ryanair website but Malaga now shows as a destination when choosing to fly from Teesside.

Last year Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said the route was a matter of ‘when not if’, saying it was the destination passengers most frequently asked him about.

Lord Houchen said: “When I make a promise, I keep it – and I am absolutely thrilled to deliver this new route to Malaga for our passengers.

“The people of Teesside, Darlington, and Hartlepool have been asking for more sunshine destinations, and we’ve delivered exactly that with Ryanair’s fantastic support.

“This is a huge win for our airport and our region, but we’re not stopping here. Our goal is to keep growing, breaking records, and getting more holiday flights for local people."

Phil Forster, Managing Director of Teesside Airport added: “We’re always working to secure more popular flights for destinations holidaymakers want to see, and this is a great addition to our departure boards.

“Behind the scenes, we’ve been working to get Teesside Airport’s name out there at major industry events, and all our staff have played their part in keeping our swift turnaround on track.

“This is testament to everyone’s hard work and our great partnership with Ryanair. While there are still big challenges ahead in the aviation industry, we’ll keep at it and keep working to secure and retain more routes to bolster the future of our airport.”