STANSTED airport has regained a direct service to the US.

Sun Country Airlines is to fly direct from the Essex airport to Minneapolis St Paul once a week from June 13 until August 13.

The flights are linked to tourist attractions in the Minneapolis St Paul region – but it is also seen as a key hub for other US Mid West cities.

The flights will leave Stansted on Sundays and return from Minneapolis on Fridays – starting from $295 for a one-way ticket.

Stansted bosses will be hoping the flights re-ignite the airport’s transatlantic routes – the airport has had no flights across the Atlantic since American Airlines pulled out of its route to the Essex airport in 2008.