New flights for bmibaby

Low-cost airline bmibaby has announced more growth at Birmingham International Airport, with an increase in routes and aircraft.

The operator will base another Boeing 737 plane there, taking the total fleet to nine, as well as introducing a new four-times-a-week service to Jersey with fares starting from just £24.99 one way, including taxes.

And the airline plans to increase its Jersey service to double daily flights over the next 12 months.

At the same time, demand from business passengers for bmibaby's existing low fare flights to Edinburgh and Glasgow has been so overwhelming that the airline has decided to again increase the number of daily flights one year ahead of its initial plans.

The operator will be offering five flights a day to Edinburgh and four a day to Glasgow with fares starting from £18.99 one way, including taxes.

David Hodge, marketing director, said: "Bmibaby remains the largest carrier in the Midlands and we have more exciting initiatives in the pipeline over the next few months as we consolidate and build on our number one position."

The airline only started operations at Birmingham in January 2005, but has grown rapidly to become the major carrier at the airport, flying to 21 European destinations. Mr Hodge said the airline was the only major carrier to allow free travel for infants under two on all its flights.