A FRESH 50-seater aircraft that will fly the new Liverpool to London route touched down at Liverpool Airport for the first time yesterday.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (JLA) managing director Neil Pakey told the Daily Post the new link could help attract other big airlines to Merseyside.

The sparkling newly-painted Fokker F50 was sprayed with high pressure water jets by the airport's fire service as it was officially christened with the name "City of Liverpool".

Starting on February 23, the aircraft will operate a five times a day return service to London City Airport.

The new service was first announced in December following the Daily Post's Fight for a Flight campaign.

VLM's UK regional manager Titus Johnson said the campaign had been a vital factor in the decision to begin the route, which the company originally ran in 1994.

He added: "I have always been a big supporter of Liverpool and I was sad to see the previous service go.

"What has been very important in terms of this service has been the sup-port of the Daily Post and the whole Merseyside community." Mr Pakey believes the new link could help persuade other big name airlines to offer services from JLA.

He said: "People now associate Liverpool with easyJet and they have been very good for us but the VLM service will help create a shop window that will allow other airlines to see Liverpool is geared up to support their services."

Also instrumental in the campaign to bring the capital air link back to Liverpool was The Mersey Partner-ship.

Speaking at the ceremony, chairman Roy Morris said: "The initial response from the business community to this service has been good.

"Now that corporate bodies here in Merseyside are giving an indication they will use it the individual travellers should follow soon after." Mr Morris joined Liverpool Lord Mayor Ron Gould and VLM managing director Johan Vanneste on the steps of the aircraft as they toasted its arrival with champagne.

Coun Gould said: "It can only help bring more tourists here in the run up to Capital of Culture in 2008."

Mr Vanneste revealed that more than 800 people had now booked seats for the first month of the service - despite the fact the company had not yet begun its marketing campaign for the route.