RYANAIR will only run nine routes from Bournemouth Airport this summer - because they haven't got enough aircraft.

Last year, the airline ran 16 routes from Bournemouth during the summer.

The budget airline confirmed their summer timetable from Bournemouth Airport would include destinations such as Palma, Barcelona Girona, Faro, Alicante, Malaga, Murcia, Tenerife, Malta and Gran Canaria.

Maria Macken, Ryanair’s UK sales and marketing manager, said: "Due to aircraft capacity constraints, we have had to reduce our operations in Bournemouth this summer.

"However, we remain committed to Bournemouth and will operate nine summer routes, including Palma, Faro Alicante and Malta, while our aircraft capacity will increase as we take delivery of 383 new Boeing aircraft over the next 9 years."

The news comes as low-cost airline Flybe get set to begin their new operation from Bournemouth.

The airline announced last year they would be opening a new base at Bournemouth Airport, starting from March 29.

Two 78-seat aircraft will be deployed for the airline’s summer schedule, starting with a new year-round, double daily service between Bournemouth and Glasgow.

And from May, Flybe will also include destinations such as Amsterdam, Manchester, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Jersey, Dublin, Deauville (Normandy) Toulon and Biarritz.

The new Flybe routes could potentially create an increase of 300,000 passengers and up to 50 new jobs at the airport.

Last year, Ryanair also ran routes to two Greek destinations - Rhodes and Chania.

In December, the Daily Echo revealed that Ryanair would be cutting some of its services from Bournemouth.

The frequency will be reduced, but the number of destinations will remain the same, Manchester Airport Group said at the time.

In 2010, Ryanair stopped flying from Bournemouth over the winter, blaming the government’s air passenger duty tax.

When they resumed their winter timetable after three years, in 2013, the move was heralded as a huge boost for the local economy.

The airline celebrated five million passengers flying from Bournemouth Airport last year.

Their operations began in 1996 with a route from Bournemouth to Dublin.

Last year, they underwent major changes to make the company more 'customer friendly', including a new-look website, streamlined booking system and bigger luggage allowance.