LOW-COST airline BMI Baby says the inaugural flight of a route it has taken over from Easyjet is already more than 80% full.

The Barcelona route was one of the 10 Easyjet abandoned at East Midlands Airport.

The four-times-a-week flight is due to begin on Thursday, March 25, and run throughout the summer until October 28.

BMI Baby expects more than 32,000 passengers to use it.

Barcelona is the second of six new routes launched by the airline for summer 2010. Malta, Dubrovnik (Croatia), Newquay and Sardinia flights start soon.

A new service to Venice began in February, which BMI Baby said was already proving popular.

Managing director Crawford Rix said: "Our new service to Barcelona is proving extremely popular with passengers.

"Barcelona is an amazing place and we are the only airline to fly directly to the city.

"We remain committed to offering passengers the chance to fly to exciting European destinations."