More than 10,000 travellers signed up within a week to fly from Cardiff with the low-cost airline bmibaby.

Bookings opened in July and the airline plans to start flying to nine destinations from Cardiff International Airport at the end of October.

The airport sees 1.5m travellers a year

Tony Davis, managing director of the budget company said there had been a "tremendous" response to the new services offered, and the company had also been "inundated" with job applications.

Flights to Alicante and Malaga have proved particularly popular, as have trips linked to major sporting events.

"The clear message is that our choice of Cardiff as a new bmibaby base is a winner," Mr Davis said.

"The support we are getting is going to match the success that we are enjoying at East Midlands Airport.

Destinations

"This can only be good for the future prospects of our operation in Wales.

From 27 October bmibaby will operate flights from Cardiff to Alicante, Belfast (International) Edinburgh, Geneva, Glasgow, Faro, Malaga and Milan (Bergamo).

Jersey will also be added to the list, subject to approval from the States of Jersey Authorities.

The company has proved a big success since its launch in March, with 200,000 passengers carried.

'Opportunity'

BMI chief executive Austin Reid said : "It is vital that we recognise the changes in consumer attitudes that are taking place."

He said: "A window of opportunity clearly exists for us to grow and develop the low-cost part of our business when the industry faces considerable competition and lower fares."

BMI already operates from 10 UK airports, including Heathrow and Manchester.