Ryanair has become the first airline to land at a new Spanish airport serving Murcia.
Daily flights to the region of Murcia international airport have started from East Midlands airport with other UK connections scheduled for the summer.
The no-frills carrier plans to serve Murcia from Birmingham, Bournemouth, Dublin, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Luton, Stansted and Manchester, helping deliver 660,000 passengers a year.
Airport operator Aena saw the airport opened by King Felipe VI of Spain yesterday (Tuesday).
It replaces Murcia San Javier airport which shut after 25 years of operation.
Ryanair chief commercial officer David O’Brien said: “Ryanair was the first airline to touch down in Spain’s newest airport, our 27th Spanish destination, where we will carry over 660,000 customers in the next 12 months.
Aena president Mauruci Lucena added: “The start-up of Región de Murcia international airport improves and strengthens the Aena network, which aims to always offer the best infrastructure to travellers and airlines.”