British Airways is responding to the success of low-cost airlines by slashing the price of European air fares on 42 routes by up to 80%, it announced today.

Saturday night stay and advance purchase restrictions have also been scrapped for round trip tickets on flights from the UK to France, Italy, Portugal, Holland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. BA is also cutting prices on domestic routes.

The airline said prices would start at £59 return on domestic routes and £69 return including taxes, from London to Paris and Amsterdam.

More than 50,000 air tickets at the lowest fare will be available every month on the 71 domestic and European routes. A mid-week return flight to Paris will now cost from £69 instead of £298, saving £229.

British Airways said: "We are offering full service at no frills prices on more than 70 routes across Europe.

"We are adopting what the no frills carriers do well and combining this with what our customers tell us we do better than anyone else."

The new fares will be available from June 20.