WANTED: a company who can help Blackpool airport really take off.

Requests like this could soon be winging their way to major players in the airport industry as the council bids to increase passenger numbers tenfold in less than a decade.

A private company with expertise is expected to take over the running of the airport while the council retains its ownership.

Cllr Robert Wynne, portfolio holder responsible for the airport, said: "The last four weeks has seen a string of fantastic announcements. First the Ryanair new route to Dublin, then Stansted and after that Flybe's Belfast flights.

"We are delighted and very proud that the hard work of the council and airport board has achieved these fantastic new routes.

"But we believe that the airport still has a great deal more potential. We need to ensure that we build on these big wins and believe that inviting a major, commercial player to join forces is the right way forward."

Councillors want the airport, which currently attracts 80,000 passengers each year, to draw 400,000 visitors by by 2006 and 900,000 by 2011.

"The runways have the capacity to bring in millions of visitors and we should ensure that Blackpool benefits from the 'flying' weekend breaks enjoyed by UK and European travellers," added Cllr Wynne.

"Airport growth would also have a huge impact of the investment that Blackpool could attract."

"We must ensure that we act now. We are on the up but will be competing with other small airports seeking to maximise the potential increase in flying and the overcrowding of large regional airports."

Legal and commercial experts are now being brought in to ensure that the airport gets the right partner.