Cheap flights 'helping local airports'

The 'cheap flights' phenomenon, popularised in Britain by airlines like easyJet and Ryanair, is supporting regional airports, a holiday company has claimed.

A spokesperson for Take the Family, which specialises in the creation of holiday packages for families, said that the availability of low-cost air travel has had a beneficial effect for both travellers and their local airports.

"It has also opened up many of the local airports, which is far more attractive to families," the company representative said.

"Shorter transfer times, both at home and at your destination, are most certainly preferred where young children are concerned."

According to Take the Family the growth of low-cost airlines has made travel much more accessible for family groups, who are now taking more foreign trips to take advantage of low fares.

The trend has also improved flexibility for holidaymakers, according to the spokesperson, as travellers are "no longer restricted to the seven or 14 days holiday options".