Gatwick is set to raise a glass to celebrate the start of British Airways’ new direct service to the Portuguese city of Porto.

The city, famous for its fortified wine and UNESCO-protected city centre, will welcome the four times a week service from Gatwick starting February next year.

The flights, which are moving from Heathrow to Gatwick, and double the frequency from two to four flights a week will boost the number of destinations available from the airport for its customers.

Lynne Embleton, British Airways’ managing director at Gatwick said: “Porto is a real cultural capital, spanning both sides of the Rio Douro, and offers visitors a brilliant place for a weekend getaway.

“From its distinctive rooftop vistas, with baroque buildings, bags of atmosphere and plentiful local port wine cellars at every turn, it’s not hard to see why Porto continues to beguile travellers and make Portugal’s second city a must-see destination.”

The new route will launch on February 11th, 2016. 

Services rise from four a week during the winter months to six times a week, for the summer season.

The new destination is the latest in a range of new holiday-friendly routes launched from Gatwick this year, including services to Cagliari, Madeira and Seville.

Flights to Sharm El Sheikh, Valencia and Vienna will also start later this year and a new long-haul route to Costa Rica starts next year.