Flybe say the five new routes from Southampton International Airport will create about 150 jobs.

A Flybe spokesman said ticket prices for daily services to Milan Bergamo, Geneva, Dublin, Belfast City and Jersey will start from £29.

Flights to Barcelona and Nice are due to be launched next winter.

'Important gateway'

Flybe managing director Jim French said: "Our aim is to duplicate the strong presence we have at Birmingham at Southampton Airport.

"With 10 million people living within 90 minutes of the airport, Southampton Airport is an important gateway to central southern England, conveniently located between the M27 and M3 motorways and with a dedicated rail station adjacent to the passenger terminal."

Mr French said that Flybe's Southampton services will initially support four aircraft with the intention to expand to a 10-strong fleet for further services to Brussels, Copenhagen, Lyons, Toulouse, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Flybe was formerly Jersey European and British European airlines and rebranded in July.

It carries more than three million passengers each year on its network which covers 18 UK and 13 international destinations with 1,200 weekly flights.