The government has announced that a total of £56 million in funding will be made available via the Regional Air Connectivity Fund to fund new routes for regional airports.

Operators will be able to apply for a grant to set up new services departing from airports that serve less than five million passengers per year. The scheme is part of a government drive to help regenerate regional economies through improved infrastructure.

Chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander highlighted previous successes such as the Newquay to London route, which has generated £2.50 for every pound of investment.

Aviation minister Robert Goodwill said: “Smaller airports are vital to local economies and ensuring they thrive is a key part of our long term economic plan. I want to encourage the industry to apply to expand their routes.”

He added that this would help generate jobs and improve Britain’s trading revenues, both at home and abroad.