Ryanair will this month open a new flight path between Liverpool and Valencia, linking the cities for the first time.

As part of an expansion entailing the launch of 70 new routes across Europe, the Irish budget airline will operate four flights a week from Liverpool to Spain’s popular third city.

Valencia was not only named as the destination for new UK flights, but was also chosen as a new Ryanair base, along with Belfast.

Tourists and property seekers from the Merseyside area will now be able to benefit from cheap flights to reach Valencia, famed for its vibrant festival atmosphere and also its location, acting as a gateway to the sun-swept Costa Blanca coastline.

Travel is also likely to increase in the other direction, with the route opening up the colder but equally fascinating charms of Liverpool, home of the Beatles and European Capital of Culture for 2008.

The opening of new routes represented a 14 per cent expansion for Ryanair, one of the leading providers of airline services between Spain and the UK.