FLIGHTS to popular Spanish holiday destinations have been brought back to Humberside Airport.
Low-cost airline Ryanair halted 80 per cent of its flights to Spain after falling out with operators in the country, which meant the loss of the lucrative destinations at regional airports, including Humberside.
But now, the airport has struck a deal directly with airlines to provide weekly flights to Alicante and Palma.
In an unusual move, the airport is underwriting the flights.
The airport's commercial director, Paul Litten, said: "We have reacted to customer demand and criticism of not having flights to where people really want to go.
"As opposed to chasing tour operators to bring the flights to the airport, we are doing it ourselves, which is pretty unusual.
"The new airport owners decided it was best to develop a relationship with the airlines directly.
"Due to the financial situation, tour operators have reduced services and those they are maintaining are at the larger airports.
"There is a very large hole in the market for western Mediterranean destinations."
Unlike the Ryanair service, the airport can provide packages for tourists.
Mr Litten said: "We can provide dynamic package holidays through our own travel agency or through independent travel agents in Hull and other places."
The new services will run until September 17 and a total of 2,500 people are expected to fly to Alicante and Palma.
Mr Litten said: "This is a first step to providing a wider range of destinations to the western Mediterranean.
"About 17,000 passengers flew out of Humberside Airport to these destination when Ryanair was operating.
"There are a lot fewer at the moment but we hope to expand over the coming years.
"Next year we hope to provide flights to Malaga, Menorca and Faro in Portugal."
The first flights flew out from the airport yesterday, with a full capacity of 125 passengers on each flight.
The flights will take off every Tuesday, to Alicante in the morning and Palma in the afternoon.
Visit humbersideairport.com or call 0844 8877747 for more information.
