The UK's first new inter-continental airport in more than 30 years opened for business yesterday when flights began from the £80m Robin Hood Airport, a former RAF bomber base in south Yorkshire.

Thomsonfly, a cut-price operator, launched the inaugural flight to Palma, Majorca. Ryanair and Thomas Cook are among the other operators providing short-haul flight to 27 destinations in 13 countries from this summer. Long-haul flights to the US and Mexico start next year by which time the new airport should be serving 33 destinations in 20 countries.