A fare war at one UK airport is set to cause holiday prices to plummet ahead of the summer season.

       EasyJet has just opened a new base at Birmingham Airport prompting a battle to offer the cheapest flights with Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI, with the UK’s largest budget airline offering flights from the airport to Barcelona for as little as ￡26 in June.

       The new base will be home to three aircraft and will predominantly target the Spanish costas and Greek islands.

       EasyJet already runs a number of routes from Birmingham Airport that are served by planes from other airports. Experts say the new base will lead to an increase in competition and a decrease in prices.

       READ MORE EasyJet flight forced to make emergency landing at UK airport

       Aviation schedule analyst, Sean Moulton, told the Independent: “EasyJet coming to Birmingham has led to significant competition, which should be good for the customer.”

       The airline's new Midlands home will allow the budget airline to offer 16 new links with the airport including five Spanish resorts in Alicante, Barcelona, Fuerteventura, Malaga and Tenerife.

       All five are already served by Ryanair and Jet2, with TUI and Vueling also flying to some of the destinations.

       Speaking of the competition, Johan Lundgren, chief executive of easyJet, added: “Competition is good. It keeps us on our toes when it comes to delivering a great product and great value at fantastic fares.

       Don't miss...

       Jet2 slams 'disgraceful' passenger after Tenerife flight diverted [LATEST]

       Flight attendant shares how passengers can charge phone in hotel without a plug [REVEALED]

       United Boeing 737 loses exterior panel mid-air in yet another alarming incident [REPORT]

       “This industry always has some fare wars going on. And I think it’s great because it does give consumers a great opportunity to travel in a way that is not only for rich and privileged people.

       “Our average fare, from everything that is on sale across the whole of the network still sells for under ￡50.

       “So we’re extremely excited about our entry into Birmingham.”

       Four Greek islands, Corfu, Crete, Kos and Rhodes will also be served from the new EasyJet base along with Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt. Antalya and Dalaman in Turkey, Berlin, Jersey, Larnaca in Cyprus and Enfidha in Tunisia.

       Birmingham is EasyJet’s first new base in 12 years after it closed headquarters in East Midlands, Newcastle, Stansted and Southend.

       Birmingham Airport CEO, Nick Barton, said: “None of the airlines are fearful of competition, so we can only expect to see them challenging each other and getting better. That's what they've done down the recent history of aviation.

       “So we are very, very comfortable in seeing that competitive tension between the airlines.”