EasyJet has announced plans to make Manchester Airport its second north-west hub, expanding the recently acquired GB Airways operation to handle 1.4 million passengers by 2010.
The low-cost giant already has eight aircraft based at nearby Liverpool.
EasyJet bought former British Airways franchise carrier GB Airways in October for £103 million. GB Airways has two aircraft at Manchester, with EasyJet pledging to increase this to five by 2010 and its fleet at Liverpool to ten.
It estimates its annual traffic from the two airports will total four million passengers within three years,
GB Airways will continue to operate under the BA brand until March 29 when EasyJet will pick up the services. EasyJet expects to complete the integration of the carrier by next winter.