British Airways has cut fares from the UK to Germany, Switzerland and Austria by more than 80 per cent. The lowest air fare previously offered by the airline required a Saturday night stay and advance purchase.

The scrapping of these restrictions means that there is a saving of £410 on a midweek return flight to Frankfurt, which now starts at £99 instead of £509 and a saving of £475 on a midweek flight to Berlin, which now starts from £109 instead of £584. The discounts will also apply to 20 regional departures operated by British Airways' subsidiary British Airways CitiExpress.

Customers can combine peak and off- peak as well as restricted and flexible fares to get the best price on a flight. For example, a business traveller can combine a cheaper fixed outbound flight to Geneva with a flexible return paying £304 instead of £486, saving £182.

The move is the latest in a series of changes to fare restrictions designed to make the national carrier more competitive with the no-frills airlines.

Tiffany Hall, British Airways Head of UK Sales says: 'We are now offering full service at no-frills prices on 108 routes. For too long some carriers have created the myth that they are the only way to get a low fare. Now air travellers can find low fares on British Airways flights plus the benefits of convenient airports, frequent flights, excellent customer service and free food and drinks on board.'

The availability of the lowest fares will be greater the earlier the booking is made.