Two budget airlines will soon be flying to Blackpool Airport

Ryanair is starting flights to Dublin and London Stanstead from the airport in May.

About 3,500 passengers have booked flights from the airport for the first month of the service.

The airline's chief executive Michael O'Leary met airport managers and tourism chiefs this week to discuss his plans for the region.

Anthony Goldstone, chairman of the Lancashire Tourism Partnership, said the new flights showed Blackpool Airport was booming.

'Great confidence'

He said: "This is a major boost for our tourism economy as it will raise Blackpool and Lancashire's profile enormously.

"Ryanair's investment in Lancashire shows they have great confidence in the county's future as a tourist destination.

"Blackpool is developing into an airport of real significance with more airlines and holiday operators launching operations from there.

"The news that Ryanair have come on board is bound to attract other airlines."

Managers claim the airport is the oldest in the UK and the most convenient for 1.5m people in the North West.

The new Blackpool-London Stanstead service begins on 1 May with the Blackpool-Dublin route beginning on 22 May.

Rival budget airline Flybe will also be running a service from Blackpool to Belfast from 19 May.