The first flights from Aberdeen International Airport to Malta will take off this week.

The new Malta route will connect the north east region to Valetta and the three Maltese islands.

This is the first new destination to launch in 2018, with TUI's route to Reus due to follow in May.

This route launch comes in the same week as TUI announced a brand new route to Rhodes from the airport in 2019.

Managing director of Aberdeen International Airport, Carol Benzie, said: 'Ryanair's new route to Malta, which launched this week, is a truly exciting addition to our growing network of summer leisure destinations.

"We are absolutely delighted to be able to launch this fantastic new route in the same week that TUI have announced a brand new route to Rhodes for 2019.

"People in our region tell us constantly that they are keen to see new leisure destinations from their local airport, and Rhodes has never been served out of Aberdeen before."