Eurojet Aviation has announced a major investment in new facilities at Birmingham airport, including an FBO at which it will base two of its fleet of managed Citation jets.

The £5 million scheme will create up to 50 new jobs at the airport and will involve the construction of a new 41,000 sq ft complex. This will house a state-of-the-art maintenance facility, a full service FBO, a commercial operations centre and an aircraft sales suite.

Eurojet operates a managed charter fleet which includes the Citation Bravo, Excel/XLS and Sovereign aircraft with bases throughout the UK and Ireland, including Belfast, Birmingham, Gloucester, London and Dublin. It operates full service FBOs at Belfast International and Belfast City airports.

The new maintenance facility at Birmingham is set for completion by the end of the year when it will become an official manufacturer-authorised service centre.

Speaking about the development Eurojet's md Graeme Campbell said: "Eurojet has operated from Birmingham for over 20 years and we are absolutely delighted to be locating this world-class development at such a high profile airport in the heart of the country.

"The complete operational flexibility offered by Birmingham airport, together with the tremendous support from the airport for the project, were decisive factors. It is also the perfect location for the expansion of our FBO activities. Our enhanced aircraft sales division will have a dedicated sales suite at the new facility."

Welcoming the move, Birmingham airport's chief executive Paul Kehoe said: "Birmingham airport is delighted that Eurojet Aviation has decided to open an aircraft maintenance centre at the airport on the Elmdon site. This represents an important development in the establishment of an aircraft maintenance cluster in the West Midlands."