GILL Airways has announced its "best ever" forward sales as its new Dublin route gets set for take-off.

The North-East's only independent airline launches the service from Newcastle to the Irish capital this morning, and issued a clear message to the public to "support your local airline".

Gill, which is still poised for an early exit from administration, will face competition initially from Aer Lingus, with the prospect of what it describes as a "copycat" action by British Airways.

Chief executive Malcolm Naylor said: "We learned soon after we announced our service to Dublin that British Airways was yet again intent on squeezing one of the few independent airlines still flying.

"BA has attempted to take over this route from Aer Lingus in March, and are on record as admitting they intend to "pick up the slots" from them.

"However we have been prepared to challenge an Aer Lingus monopoly two months before any proposed BA start, in recognition of the fact that this market has been appallingly under-served for years."

Already Gill is boasting more than 4,000 advance sales on the service and the Newcastle airline, which employs 350 staff, marked the launch of its service by offering return fares of £39 during January only.