Large numbers of people searched bmibaby's website for flights to the Mediterranean in February this year compared to the same month in 2008, while tracking figures showed that 1.3 million people used Google to search for flights to Alicante, Malaga, Barcelona and the Algarve over the course of the month.

Bmibaby managing director Crawford Rix said that the increase in flight searches translated into more bookings for sunshine destinations in Portugal and mainland Spain.

"With the current economic downturn consumers want to make sure their annual summer holiday guarantees them some sunshine," he said.

Mr Rix added that, in order to meet high demand, the carrier had increased its capacity to the Mediterranean by an additional 30 flights a week.

Bmibaby will launch a new flight to Almeira from Cardiff Airport on May 22nd.