A major airline's decision to base jets at Blackpool could be the first step towards becoming a high-tech aviation industry centre of excellence.

Paul Whelan, chairman of City Hoppers Ltd which owns Blackpool International Airport, predicted that Jet 2's decision to base a plane at Squires Gate for flights to Northern Ireland and Spain would create jobs of the 'right quality' to the region.

"It will create direct jobs and it will create indirect jobs," said Mr Whelan at last week's launch of the new routes.

"We are hoping that as Jet 2's presence grows here we will be putting in place maintenance facilities and training facilities.

It is key for this area and creates jobs of the right quality.

"Having an airline based here does have a tremendous positive impact."

The airport has already been in talks with the North West Aerospace Alliance, a consortium of businesses in the aviation sector in the region, with a view to setting up Blackpool s a centre of excellence for aircraft maintenance.

Philip Meeson, chairman of Jet 2's parent company, Dart Group PLC, said: "Basing a plane here is a very important step towards establishing more new routes from Blackpool.

"We have our own representatives in most of the countries and most of the cities we fly to, promoting brilliant Blackpool - I think it's a great attraction.

"We hope to fly more than 400,000 passengers in our first year and we hope to be announcing more routes in the near future."

At least two other high profile routes have been earmarked by Jet 2 for the coming months to continental destinations, possibly including Amsterdam.

Jet 2's main headquarters is at Leeds Bradford Airport and it also flies out of Manchester. Flights to Belfast, starting at £9 one way including tax, are due to take off next month.

Flights to Murcia and Palma begin next April priced from £29, a fare cheekily described by Mr Meeson as: "Cheaper than going on the old Big Dipper."