FLYBE Statement

Low-cost carrier Flybe has announced plans to become the biggest operator at Cardiff Airport in three years' time.The company, which claims to be Europe's biggest low-cost regional airline, has reported strong advance ticket sales at the Welsh capital's airport.Flybe will serve four new destinations from Cardiff from the end of March – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey and Newcastle – and the airline expects to sell nearly 300,000 tickets by the end of the year.Mike Rutter, the airline's chief commercial officer, claimed that Flybe has a track record of providing customers with "great value new routes" across its UK network. He added: "If anyone needs evidence of our ability to make aviation affordable, look no further than Southampton Airport where five years ago, less than 200,000 passengers used the airport."Last year two million flew from Southampton, of which 90 per cent were Flybe passengers. We aim to do exactly the same for Cardiff."Another new route from Cardiff Airport, operated by bmibaby, will carry passengers to Barcelona from May 24th.