Jet2 is set to launch 16 exciting new routes from Bournemouth Airport as it prepares to fly from a southern airport for the first time.

The airline has never flown from south of London before so this marks a major milestone for Jet2.

The company said the decision would support independent travel agents in the region who have called for this move for a while.

More than 100 jobs will be created by the Bournemouth Airport move and the airport will need to expand to accommodate the new passengers.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2 and Jet2holidays said: “We know that customers and independent travel agents have been asking us for a long time to make this move, so we are absolutely delighted to be announcing today that Bournemouth Airport will become our 12th UK base airport.”

The inaugural Jet2 flight will fly to Tenerife on April 1 and the company is set to recruit cabin crew, engineering, flight deck and ground operations staff in the coming weeks.

Andrew Bell, CEO of RCA, Regional and City Airports, the owners of Bournemouth Airport, said: “This is fantastic news for passengers and represents a huge vote of confidence in Bournemouth Airport by Jet2 and Jet2holidays, by choosing Bournemouth as their new base airport in what is a major expansion of their operations into the south of England.

“It will create new employment locally, add 16 fabulous new destinations from Bournemouth, up to 27 extra flights a week and will see an estimated additional 300,000 passengers using their local airport.”