DERRY-based bus company Airporter is investing over £1m and doubling their workforce over the next 12 months.

The company, now in its 10th year of business, currently runs an hourly bus service linking Derry with both Belfast airports.

But in June it will add two new routes to its network as part of the firm's ambitious plans to create a 'north of Ireland'-wide coach network connecting towns and cities directly to the airports.

The new services, starting on June 5, 2006 will leave Londonderry every two hours.

One will travel via Strabane, Omagh and Dungannon to Belfast International Airport, with the other travelling through Limavady, Coleraine and Ballymoney. A connecting coach service will then take passengers on to Belfast City Airport.

The company is creating a substantial 15 new jobs taking its workforce to 35. In addition six new coaches are being added to the company bringing the fleet total to 13.

Within the next 18 months Airporter has further plans to introduce services to Enniskillen, Armagh and Newry and cross border services to Letterkenny and Sligo.

The coach firm is also pioneering the use of innovative Internet and mobile phone technology to allow passengers to book and pay for their tickets online.

In a first for public transport, customers who book online will have a confirmation "thumbprint" sent to their mobile phone, which will be swiped on a scanner when they get on the coach.

As well as expanding its route network, the company aims to increase the use of technology in selling tickets. At the moment, just 10 per cent of sales are through its website but by the end of this year the company hopes this figure will be over 80 per cent, making booking tickets faster and easier.

Airporter Director Niall McKeever stated: "These are exciting times for our company and for our industry.

"Our services complement the existing Translink operation by providing direct access to both Belfast airports from places where no such links presently exist", he said.

Three years ago 48,000 people travelled with Airporter. This year the service is expected carry approx 120,000.