Ryanair has announced a new twice-daily service from London Stansted to Newquay in Cornwall.

The service will provide a significant tourist boost for Cornwall, cutting the journey time from the capital to just one hour, compared with more than six by road or rail. At the moment around 3.5 million tourists visit Cornwall each year, attracted by traditional beaches, surfing and more alternative destinations such as the Eden biosphere Project.

It is hoped the new flights will persuade even more people to stay at home and sample what Cornwall has to offer. 'Ryanair's arrival is the most significant economic regeneration factor for Cornwall in the past 30 years,' said Newquay's council leader, John Weller. 'We hope it will be a spur to the whole tourism industry.'

The Newquay route was one of eight launched by the airline last week. The expanded network includes Rome, Milan, Montpellier in Southern France and the Dutch city of Eindhoven. 'This summer we expect to carry over 12 million passengers who will save themselves over £1.5bn,' said Ryanair's chief executive, Michael O'Leary.

The low-cost airline begins the new service in April, with fares starting at £78.