THE beach at Blackpool will be just an hour's flying time away with the launch of direct flights from South-ampton Airport to the northern holiday hotspot.

New fast-transit business airline Jetstream Express launches the five-times-a-week service in June, but aims to increase frequency soon and may also launch other routes.

With prices from £57, the scheduled services are a departure for the executive jet business behind the venture, which owns the 18-seater planes.

Jetstream Express is being operated by business charter firm Jetstream Executive Travel, which operates a fleet of 19-seater modern Jetstream 31 aircraft, an example of which is shown above. The firm is planning a series of routes out of a Blackpool base.

Designed primarily for business travellers to the north-west, bosses are hoping to attract leisure travellers attracted by the fun of the seaside and the natural attractions of the nearby Lake District.

John Hardcastle, director of Jetstream Express said: "All the market research we have done in the last six months shows us there is a business and leisure market crying out for something up there more than just Manchester.

"There is a lot of business potential going either way.

"We would like to increase the services we're running. "At the moment, It is Monday to Friday because you have to start somewhere. Then we'll go to one on Sunday and then maybe it's on to double daily flights in due course. The team are also looking at other routes that may involve Southampton."

The new flights come hard on the heels of new Flybe services to Paris, Frankfurt and the Isle of Man from Southampton.