A new service between the 'sister cities' of Birmingham and Lyon has been introduced by Air France.

Launched on Monday, the flight departs from Birmingham Airport twice a day, allowing travellers to connect with further services at Lyon, such as those to Madrid and Venice.

Peter Vella, business development director at Birmingham Airport, said that the new service could be ideal for those seeking to take an overseas weekend break at a convenient destination.

"Lyon has a lot to offer its visitors with gastronomic cuisine, enriched history and culture, its famous painted walls, art galleries, museums, shops and more. We look forward to working with Air France to make this route as successful as Paris," he commented.

Other destinations served by the hub include Waterford, Dublin, Paris, Delhi, Toronto, New York and Munich, among others.

The airport is used by airlines such as Continental Airlines, Air India, bmi, Aer Lingus and Lufthansa.

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