Eastern Airways is launching three new services between the UK and Paris, while forming a partnership with Air France to open up global routes.

The Humberside-based regional airline will fly daily from East Midlands, Cardiff and Southampton to Paris Orly, starting from next month. A ticketing arrangement is to be developed with the national flag carrier in the coming weeks, providing onward connections.

The launch will see 25 crew and engineering roles created at East Midlands, with a low emission 72-seat ATR aircraft to be based there, a first for Eastern. It will complement the Newquay service, and is seen as a catalyst to further new routes from there.

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Roger Hage, commercial director at Eastern Airways, said: “We are delighted to be entering into this cooperation with Air France and opening up connectivity to Europe’s second biggest city for both business and leisure travellers and restoring direct access year-round to France.

“These first three new UK-France services will initiate the new Eastern Airways and Air France cooperation, developing into a codeshare partnership in the course of this year. “Each ensures a sustainable capacity development whereby not only direct access to Paris is offered, but onward connections to a myriad of destinations allowing business users much improved options but also an exciting and ever popular leisure offer including Disneyland Paris celebrating its 30th anniversary this year to add to the Parisian charm the city is famous for.”

East Midlands and Southampton will start daily services on Friday, April 14, with Cardiff a week later.