British Airways is launching a new year-round service between Stansted Airport and Milan.

From Apri 29, BA will operate one flight each way between Stansted and the northern Italian city’s Linate Airport on Saturdays and Sundays, adding further to its network of routes at the Essex hub where it only began operating in May last year.

Alongside the Stansted service, BA will also start flying to Milan Linate from London City Airport from April 24, with two flights a day on week days and one a day at weekends.

Luke Hayhoe, British Airways’ general manager customer and commercial, said: “Milan is a very exciting route for us as it will appeal to both business and leisure customers.

“The new services gives the choice of two alternative London airports with well-timed flights to Linate, which is Milan’s most convenient airport.”

Mats Sigurdson, Stansted Airport aviation Director, added: “It’s fantastic to hear that British Airways is launching another new service from Stansted.

“This is excellent news for the airport and gives passengers even more choice. It also reflects the growing strength of demand that exists for these services across London and the East of England.”

Italian airline Meridiana, which already codeshare on BA services between Milan Linate and London Heathrow, will in future also codeshare on the new services from London City and Stansted.

Last month, BA announced the launch of three new summer destinations from Stansted, Florence, Geneva and Nice, along with increased frequencies on routes to Ibiza and Palma.

Including other summer-only routes and year-round flights to Berlin, the addition of Milan means that BA will be flying to nine destinations from Stansted this summer.

All flights will be operated with Embraer 190 jet aircraft, with two abreast seating so every customer gets an aisle or window seat.