Spain, Portugal boost air access

UK travellers can look forward to greater access to the Iberian peninsula in the future after the green light was given to two new airport developments.

The first new hub will be built in the town of Huelva in south-eastern Spain, an expanding tourist location that has not yet achieved the exposure of the likes of Malaga and Alicante.

This development will aid travel to the area as current infrastructure means that people wanting to visit Huelva must do so via Faro airport in Portugal or Seville in southern Spain, the International Herald Tribune reports.

Portugal's new airport will be based in Alcochete, just outside the capital city of Lisbon.

This location was chosen ahead of a site to the north, meaning that it will provide better services for people wanting to travel to the tourist region of the Algarve in southern Portugal.

A provisional completion date sometime in 2012 has been pencilled in for the two developments.

The Iberian peninsula is one of UK travellers' favourite international holiday locations, with four of the top ten destinations from Gatwick Airport in Spain or Portugal.