Summer Ibiza plans for Blackpool

Blackpool Airport looks set to offer flights to the party island of Ibiza this summer, after low cost carrier Jet2 recently advertised them on its website.

Thousands of UK holidaymakers might be swapping the Pleasure Beach for San Antonio Bay, as the growing airport continues to offer more and more routes.

Passenger numbers at Blackpool Airport have risen sharply over recent years, with 377,000 in 2005 jumping to 553,000 for 2006.

Low budget carriers such as Ryanair and Jet2 have played a major part in the increased traffic from the popular seaside destination.

Jet2 offers cheap flights to a variety of domestic and European destinations and its main base is at Leeds/Bradford Airport.

The airline also has hubs at Manchester Airport, Newcastle Airport, Edinburgh Airport and Belfast International Airport.

Blackpool Airport recently unveiled plans for a fast-transit shuttle service to Southampton Airport, Aberdeen Airport and Belfast City Airport.

The new service is being offered by JetStream Executive Travel and will be geared around the needs of business flyers.

However, Gareth Kennedy, Blackpool Airport's director of business development, said he hoped leisure travellers would also take advantage of the new routes.