Developing travel market 'gives lifeblood to regions'

Regional parts of the UK are benefiting from a developing travel market and steady growth at local airports, an industry spokesperson has claimed.

According to Neil Pakey, managing director of Liverpool Airport and deputy chair of the Airport Operators Association (AOA), growth in regional travel markets has been partly stimulated by the success of low-cost airlines.

Development can also be attributed to changes in the travel booking habits of consumers, the airport manager said, with more people taking a direct approach to their travel arrangements.

"So many people now book their flights directly [on] the internet, whereas before we had to do everything through the airline or through the travel agent," Mr Pakey said.

"Those sort of dynamic changes have been very beneficial to the regions right across Europe and have given some lifeblood to some of those regions and their economies."

The low-cost market has improved access to many locations across Europe, according to Mr Pakey, and also boosted the UK economy by making it easier for foreign tourists to visit the British Isles.