SUNSEEKERS will be able to jet off to the Costa del Sol direct from Blackpool next summer.

Sunstyle, based in Manchester, will run flights to Malaga from May, and if successful it will mean Blackpool Airport becoming a major player in the international tourism industry.

Flights to Tenerife from the airport have already proved so popular with North West holidaymakers, they will also continue indefinitely all year round rather than ending next May.

Roy Minear, managing director of the airport, said: "This is tremendous news not just for ourselves but for people living in the Lancashire and Cumbria area.

"Not only are there going to be many more flights to Tenerife than originally planned, but there will now be the choice of a second holiday destination to the Costa del Sol."

The move could attract business from other tour operators and Mr Minear hopes the added interest in Blackpool will mean expansion for the airport buildings.

He said: "The terminal has been designed in module form, giving us the opportunity to expand - the sooner the better.

"We envisage being able to handle three times the traffic we now have in this terminal."

During the Open Golf Championships the airport is handling more traffic than ever, with VIPs arriving in executive jets and visitors flying in on charter flights.

Mr Minear said: "This brings an opportunity for us to demonstrate we can handle all sorts of flights efficiently."

Two of the runways at the airport are temporarily closed and will be used as parking areas for VIP jets arriving in the area.

A fleet of helicopters from Blackpool Helicentre, owned by Geoff Hopkins, will fly in visitors to the tournament.

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