NEW flights are to take off from Glasgow to Bournemouth next year.

NEW flights are to take off from Glasgow to Bournemouth next year.

The flights, which will be launched next March and run twice a day, will coincide with the relaunch of Flybe's Aberdeen base.

Flights from Glasgow to Jersey will also return as part of the summer schedule.

Paul Simmons, Flybe's chief commercial officer, said the new flights meant they were in for a busy summer.

He said they were continuing to expand the airline to offer a cost-effective service.

Meanwhile, airport bosses from across Scotland yesterday called for fast action on Smith Commission recommendations for Air Passenger Duty.

Glasgow airport managing director Amanda McMillan joined bosses from Edinburgh and Aberdeen in urging Westminster to commit to devolving Air Passenger Duty (APD) to Holyrood.

In the letter, the three transport leaders said by devolving APD to Scotland, the UK Government will deliver a "tremendous boost to Scotland's tourism industry and its economy as a whole."

It read: "We are aware of and understand the concerns which have been raised by our counterparts in England regarding APD, however, we believe that any tax competition across the border would be minimal and is not in itself a good reason to prevent the devolution of the tax to Holyrood.

"In almost all cases, Scottish airports do not compete substantially with airports in the north of England for flights - our most energetic competition is in Europe where there is no tax at all.

"What is more, APD is a self-contained tax and does not interact with the rest of the fiscal system. This makes it inherently suitable for devolution as the partial, trouble free devolution to the Northern Ireland Assembly has shown."

The calls have been backed by the SNP, who are also urging Westminster to commit to the recommendations revealed by Lord Smith last week.

SNP MSP Mark MacDonald said: "(The letter) backs up our position and means the UK government must act now.

"The ball is now very much in Westminster's court and the onus is on them to deliver - sooner rather than later."