Air Wales bought up Swansea Airport last year

Wales' only airline announced on Tuesday that flights would leave Cardiff and Swansea for London City Airport three times a day from 28 April.

Some flights will cost as little as �19 plus tax, and flight times will be 80 minutes from Swansea and 55 minutes from Cardiff.

We're expecting a stampede for the service Air Wales chairman Roy Thomas

The last time a service operated between Cardiff and London was in 1967, when Cambrian Airways flew to London Heathrow Airport.

Swansea was last served in 1965 when Morton Air Services operated between Swansea Airport and Gatwick.

Air Wales chairman Roy Thomas bought Swansea Airport last November for an undisclosed sum.

The local property financier pledged to plough money into the airport and improve services.

Announcing the new London flights, he said the move would help business and leisure travellers alike.

"But we're not just linking up capital with capital, we're linking west Wales with London too, as the service will run between Swansea and London as well as Cardiff and London," he said.

The company is promising comfort at budget prices

"As the only options of getting from Wales to London to date have either been via lengthy train rides or car journeys, we're expecting a stampede for the service.

"Business travellers will be able to get to London and back in a morning or an afternoon and, even for people wanting a short-break in London, the chance of doing so using our low fare structure should prove an irresistible opportunity."

Air Wales has already doubled its workforce at its operating base in Swansea Airport from 50 to 100 since Christmas. It hopes to double the number again over the next 18 months.

"As a result of Air Wales' growth, the boost in jobs here at Swansea has been tremendous," Mr Thomas said.

"When you take into consideration the enormous possibilities of new jobs coming into the south Wales area with businesses taking advantage of the new air links with London, the ultimate jobs boost could be phenomenal."

Air Wales had hit the headlines last year by appealing for cabin crew under 5ft 3 inches - a height restriction it insists on because of tight space on the aircraft.

Two new planes were ordered by the airline to cope with the planned increase in flights to and from Swansea, Cardiff, and Plymouth Airports.

Air Wales has been operating for four years and has so far been flying from Swansea to Dublin, Cork and Jersey, and from Cardiff and Plymouth to Dublin and Cork.