London Biggin Hill airport has reported traffic figures for the calendar year 2001, which it says have illustrated a way-above-average growth in traffic in 2001 against the previous year. Total flights throughout the year increased by 16 per cent to 92,000.

The growth is reportedly due to new investment in the airport, an increase in private flying and strong growth in business aviation – which itself increased by 11 per cent against a market growth of 3 per cent.

Airport marketing & customer services manager, Julie Black said: “This increase in business aircraft movements is a clear illustration of Biggin Hill’s determination to meet the needs of business aviation operators.

“Our corporate aircraft handling facilities have just been ranked very highly indeed in an industry survey of European FBOs and our status as a slot-free business aviation airport so close to Central London are all reasons that operators choose Biggin Hill. ”

Alongside this growth, there has been expansion by certain based operators such as Gold Air and Markoss Aviation.

Black added: “We were delighted last year when Jet Aviation purchased two hangars on the airport – their first UK operation – for corporate aircraft management, maintenance and handling. Jet’s own FBO is expected to be operational by the Spring and I am sure that their presence here on the airport will generate more business for us both in partnership.

“The outlook however is tough. Our competitor airports, particularly Farnborough, Luton and Stansted have all invested heavily in new facilities and have longer opening hours than Biggin Hill, so this makes it harder for us to win new business and attract more operators”.