Balfour Beatty says it will pump £90m into expanding services and wants to increase passenger numbers by more than four million over the next 30 years.

The construction giant this week bought a 95 per cent controlling stake in Blackpool International in a deal worth £14m.

Bosses have already started work on getting new routes and will work with partners Regional and City Airports and airport investors Churchill to deliver "an exciting future for Blackpool and beyond".

Blackpool lost its Stansted connection last year, but hopes are high of re-establishing a route to London.

Al Romeu, president of Churchill Airports Ltd, said: "We want to make sure we are the airport of choice.

"To do that we want to get back a capital service as soon as possible. It will be one of many priorities."

Balfour Beatty says the promised £90m investment will be delivered by 2030, while it wants passenger numbers to rise from the current 500,000-a-year to 4.5 million by 2035.

New developments include re-branding the airport, increasing car parking facilities and transport routes.

Clive Coleman, technical director for Balfour Beatty, said: "Blackpool represents a strategic investment for us.

"We see it as the next plank in developing our airport portfolio and we want Blackpool to grow."

Bosses will fly to Portugal this weekend for the Routes Europe conference. They will hold meetings with a number of European carriers in a bid to tempt them to Blackpool.

David Kershaw, chief executive of Blackpool International, said: "It's a very exciting time for the airport."

Balfour Beatty has a proven track record in airport expansion after buying Exeter International for £60m in January 2007.

Blackpool Council retained a five per cent stake in Blackpool Airport following the sale to Balfour Beatty by Northern Ireland-based Mar Properties.

Council leader Coun Peter Callow said: "This is a massive boost for Blackpool. It is the sort of investment which provides the town with a major confidence boost.