PASSENGER numbers at Bournemouth Airport could significantly rise this winter thanks to a number of new flights.

Airport bosses are predicting the number of passengers will increase by 50 per cent, as more than 55 flights a week to 14 destinations are scheduled.

This winter there will be five flights a week to the Canary Islands, with Thomson or Ryanair, who will be also be offering two flights a week to Malaga and Alicante.

Thomson will also offer weekly flights to Cyprus throughout November, and from March 2, 2016.

Skiers and snowboarders will also be able to fly from Bournemouth, with EasyJet's route to Geneva and Crystal Ski's weekly flight to Turin.

EasyJet will operate six flights a week from mid-December, with Crystal Ski's starting a few days later.

FlyBe started their summer programme from Bournemouth in May, with flights to destinations including Biarritz, Deauville and Toulon.

And their current routes to Manchester, Glasgow, Jersey, Paris, Dublin and Amsterdam will continue through the winter.

Every week there will be 12 flights to Manchester and Glasgow, six to Jersey, four to Paris and Dublin and two to Amsterdam.

Paul Knight, managing director, Bournemouth Airport, said: “These additional routes are great news for the airport and I am delighted that we are able to offer our passengers a growing choice of flight and holiday options this winter.”

The news comes as Manchester Airports Group, the owner of Bournemouth Airport, release their annual results.

As owners of Manchester, London Stansted, East Midlands and Bournemouth airports, the Group say they have "exceeded expectations", with growth at Stansted and Manchester exceeding that of Heathrow and Gatwick airports combined.

The Group's revenues have climbed to £738.4million, an increase of 10 per cent.

Across the portfolio, total passenger numbers were up by 10.7 per cent to 48.5m while at Bournemouth airport they remained steady at 700,000.

Reaffirming their commitment to Bournemouth, the MAG report said: "Bournemouth Airport continues to be an important contributor to the group and following the news earlier this year that Flybe is relocating its southern base to the airport and adding 10 new routes, passenger numbers will significantly increase in 2015-16."