FAL Aviation has handled more than 30 business jet movements in its first two months of FBO operations at London Ashford Airport. Aircraft ranging from King Airs, Learjet 31s and Citation jets to Falcon 2000s and Gulfstream IVs have been handled by the company.

Zaher Deir, md of London Ashford Airport, said: "FAL Aviation’s clients have been flying to and from a diverse range of destinations, from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Portugal, Nice and Paris, from Geneva, St Petersburg and Antwerp to Ibiza and even Canada, to name just a few."

The facility opened in July with a champagne reception for dignitaries, politicians and business leaders. Guests also watched Air Marshall Clifford Spink, chairman of the airport, perform an aerobatic display in a World War II Corsair aeroplane.

"By choosing to base its operations at London Ashford Airport, FAL can offer clients a convenient gateway to London, the South East and Europe," said Deir.

"As well as all the usual handling services for the aircraft, such as fuel, repositioning, de-icing and sanitary services, FAL offers a vast array of personal services," he added.

"These range from chauffeur-driven vehicles, limousines, helicopter charter and catering to floral arrangements, accommodation and conference facilities."

The FBO is the latest development for the airport, which has invested heavily in upgrading its facilities.

The cost of upgrading the existing terminal amounted to £400,000; £2 million has been spent on the refurbishment of the maintenance hangar and vip terminal; and £7 million on resurfacing and strengthening the runway and creating a 13 acre apron.

Plans are under way to develop the airport as a regional airport, capable of handling up to two million passenger annually by 2014.

The airport recently carried out low-level noise tests with a 37-seat Embraer 135, in order to demonstrate that passenger jets will not cause noise nuisance for nearby residents. It received just eight enquiries about the noise.

“This was a true test of noise emissions from jet aircraft operating from Lydd,” said Deir. “We deliberately planned the route to overfly all the major residential communities and we undertook two missed approaches to ensure that the exercise was a valid one.”