Budget airline Ryanair today announced its first international flight from City of Derry Airport, with the maiden flight bound for Alicante set to take off in March.

The twice-weekly direct flights from the airport to Spain brings to six the number of routes now offered from the local airport.

At the launch in Londonderry’s Guildhall, Ryanair said the new route will increase the company’s traffic to and from the airport significantly, and will help sustain 480 local jobs, while also delivering around £45m in tourism revenues for the area.

Ryanair's Laura McCormack said: “The City of Derry Airport today celebrates the announcement of the first international route to Alicante.

“This route goes on sale today and will begin from March 30.

“With a total of six low fare routes from Derry this summer, passengers can beat the recession by flying at Ryanair's guaranteed lowest fares and no fuel surcharges to Birmingham, Glasgow (Prestwick), Liverpool, Stansted, Luton and now Alicante.”

She added: “To celebrate this new route at Derry, Ryanair is offering one million £1 seats for travel in February and March.

“These seats will be snapped up fast and are available for booking on www.ryanair.com before midnight Monday.”

Alicante province is located in south-east Spain and is part of the Costa Blanca.

The city of Alicante, which is on the coastline between Benidorm and Elche, has a population of over 300,000 with a history stretching back to prehistoric times, as well as world renowned beaches, overlooked by a mountain top castle.

The boost for City of Derry Airport comes just a week after its owners Derry City Council announced a £600,000 programme of cutbacks.

Negotiations began last night between union officials and council chiefs over the implementation of the cost-cutting measures.

Speaking after the meeting, Gareth Scott, regional organiser with the Unite union, said:

“Unfortunately we still haven’t been furnished with all the information we are seeking but at this moment the council is looking at cutting a number of jobs but also creating some new jobs. We do not know as yet what the nature of the new jobs will be.

“It is also appears that agency workers will be released. There are currently 11 agency workers at the airport. “

He added: “The council will be meeting with staff on an individual basis now to develop protfolios and see what skills they have that could be transferrable so that people may be able to transfer from their current job to another job.”

A follow-up meeting is expected to take place over the next few weeks.

Announcing the cutbacks last week, chief executive of Derry City Council Valerie Watts said:

“Derry City Council must act now to consolidate services at City of Derry Airport to safeguard future growth.”