This is the view of tour leader and businessman Martin McCrossan who says the new services to Birmingham and Luton will provide a much-needed boost to the city’s economy.

The service to Birmingham will operate daily while the new Luton service will operate three times a week. Both routes, which were announced this week, will begin at the end of October.

The Derry tour guide says that City of Derry Airport is greatly helping to grow the number of English visitors to the city.

“We are delighted with this announcement as it opens up whole new markets”, he told the ‘Journal’. “Derry now has another connection with the midlands and an additional link with London. We are already seeing a huge increase in the number of English visitors, so these new routes will only add to these visitor numbers.

“No matter what is said about Ryanair, they always bring in the big numbers.”

Mr. McCrossan says that tourist numbers to the city are up on last year but that there had been a steep drop in the number of American visitors.

“Visitor numbers are noticeably up on last year. This increase is fuelled by the rise in the number of young English visitors coming on weekend breaks. Now that we are in times of peace, English visitors are flocking here.

“Unfortunately, due to the falling dollar, we have seen a steep drop in the number of US visitors.”

This week’s announcement by Ryanair means the budget carrier now offers seven destinations from City of Derry Airport. Alongside the two new routes, Ryanair now flys to Bristol, Glasgow Prestwick, London Standsted, Liverpool, and the East Midlands.

‘Spoiled for choice’

Ryanair's Bridget Dowling said: "With seven low fare Ryanair routes on offer from Derry, the people of Northern Ireland are now spoiled for choice. With the addition of these two routes, Ryanair will carry over 650,000 passengers per annum through Derry City Airport.

"While other airlines are busy increasing fuel surcharges, Ryanair is busy guaranteeing the lowest fares and no fuel surcharges ever on any of its new routes.

"To celebrate these new routes, we are offering seats from Derry from just £10 one way, including taxes and charges. We urge passengers to book today as these seats will be snapped up," she said.