LOW-cost airline Ryanair is looking to strengthen its links with North-East tourism agencies, in a bid to help market the region abroad.

Cathy Timlin, a senior manager with the Dublin-based company, has lined up meetings with regional bodies such as One NorthEast and this week met with executives from the NewcastleGateshead Initiative.

She has held talks with tourism chiefs in the Tees Valley and County Durham.

The move fuelled speculation that the Irish group is looking to expand its North-East operations.

Ryanair is planning to double passenger numbers to 70 million in the next seven years. It has 140 new aircraft coming on line and is looking to create ten European bases to accommodate them.

Ms Timlin refused to comment on whether her visits meant Ryanair was looking to expand its North-East presence. "We are talking to 40 airports about routes and base development," she said.

Ryanair flies from Newcastle International to Dublin and Milan, while Durham Tees Valley offers links to Dublin and Rome.

Both airports said they were in constant talks with Ryanair, but declined to comment further.