Airport boosted by extra flights

The new routes will start operating at the end of the year

Managers of East Midlands Airport have said they are confident about its future after a low-cost airline announced major expansion plans.

Bmibaby is to fly to eight new European destinations from the Castle Donington airport starting from December.

The routes are Cork, Venice, Barcelona, Malta, Dubrovnik, Newquay, Sardinia and Corsica.

The news comes after Easyjet said it was pulling out, as it could not see a "long-term future" at the airport.

'Future potential'

Bmibaby is also basing three additional aircraft at the airport as well as increasing flights on existing routes for this winter and summer 2010.

A new year-round service to Prague and Geneva is also to be introduced.

Penny Coates, managing director of the airport, said: "It's really important for the long-term future of the airport.

"We've worked with bmibaby for a long time and as regional partners and I think it's fantastic that they have the faith in the East Midlands region for development as we do."

Crawford Rix, managing director of bmibaby, said: "Bmi have operated from East Midlands since the airport opened in 1965 and is an embedded part of the local community.

"We recognise the size of the East Midlands market and its future potential."

Jet2 announced it was moving to the airport from next spring.