Package holiday flights to Italy, Austria, Croatia, Portugal and Malta will take off from Kent International Airport next year.

The charter trips begin in May and will be operated by Newmarket Holidays, which has flown from Manston for several years.

Company representative Alison Keeble said: "We've had another good year at Manston and were pleasantly surprised by how demand held up strongly despite the recession.

"Our packages from Manston are always popular as our tours mean people experience the country rather than just staying in a resort."

Newmarket offers a range of holiday programmes at each of its destinations. Among the options in Italy include accommodation on the shore of spectacular Lake Garda or a seven-city tour that takes in the delights of Verona, Venice, Assisi, Rome, Florence, Siena and San Gimignano.

For more information, visit www.newmarketholidays.co.uk.