Two new air routes between Aberdeen and Spain will be launched next year by budget airline Ryanair.

From February 2017, holidaymakers will be able to fly direct from the north east to Alicante and Malaga, on the Mediterranean country's south east coast.

Both services will run twice a week, Ryanair said.

The airline is offering tickets for flights in February and March 2017 at prices starting from £30.99 in a promotion that runs until midnight on Thursday.

Robin Kiely, Ryanair's head of communications, said: "We are pleased to announce our return to Aberdeen as we launch two new routes to Alicante and Malaga, beginning in February and operating twice weekly, which will help deliver 50,000 annual customers at Aberdeen Airport.

"We look forward to working closely with the team at Aberdeen Airport to deliver more routes, traffic and growth in the future."

Carol Benzie, manager of Aberdeen Airport, said Alicante and Malaga were two of the most-requested routes in a customer survey conducted earlier this year.

She added: "This is fantastic news from Ryanair and it clearly demonstrates the opportunity that exists for leisure capacity here in Aberdeen.

"We look forward to welcoming Ryanair back to Aberdeen."