Bmibaby has announced it will cease flying from Cardiff and Manchester airports from the end of this summer as part of a cost-cutting drive.

The low-cost carrier said it will be redeployed four planes to Belfast, East Midlands and Birmingham airports, as it focuses on its more established routes during the difficult economic climate. Most staff will also be redeployed.

Bmibaby’s parent British Midland International (BMI) has recently been taken over by Germany’s Lufthansa.

The airline currently operates 40 flights a week out of Manchester and 30 a week from Cardiff to European destinations.

It added that BMI would maintain a “significant presence” at Manchester airport.

Bmibaby also said it was introducing seven new routes from Belfast, and two new routes from East Midlands airport.

The airline operates 14 Boeing 737s.