Virgin Express is to announce details today of a new operation which is setting up at Shannon Airport which will initially create 40 jobs. The low-cost airline operator is also expected to announce that it will introduce a new earlymorning service from Shannon to London Stansted, writes Barry O'Keeffe.

Virgin is currently based in Brussels and is establishing a second operation in Ireland. It is setting up a call reservations centre in Shannon, which could eventually offer significant employment.

It is understood that the airline will locate much of its administrative activities here. It is believed that the company will also use Shannon for staff training purposes.

The airline's decision to locate at Shannon is seen as a major coup for the airport. The company had been trying to decide between Dublin and Shannon.

Virgin Express flies scheduled and chartered services in Europe and operates between London and Brussels under an agreement with Sabena.