LONDON Oxford Airport is set to expand after seeing jet movements increase by more than six per cent in 2016.

Bosses said the site next to Kidlington had seen a 37 per cent year-on-year rise in use by large business jets and a 47 per cent increase in two years.

Overall, the airport handled a total of 5,629 business aviation movements.

Helicopter movements were also up 25 per cent for the year to more than 6,000.

Airbus Helicopters, whose UK home is at the airport, accounted for nearly a thousand more movements on top of this.

The airport is currently home to some 65 aircraft. Bosses said they would respond to demand for more hangar space by building a new 15,250sqft single, stand-alone bay with 1,850sqft of adjacent offices, as well as 30 car parking spaces.

Located at the end of Hangar 14, the newest development is set to be finished by the end of this year.

Head of business development James Dillon-Godfray said: “The new building, both prominent and visible from the A44, is compatible with Bombardier Global 7000-sized aircraft, but could typically handle four Challenger-sized aircraft.”

Last autumn, Piper Aircraft established an office at London Oxford Airport for its UK representative.

Since the start of this year, Aircrew, the new pilot app company, Travion, a flight management company, HeliGroup and Cirrus Flight Training have also taken space. In total, the airport and its tenants account for well over 1,500 jobs in the UK, it said in a statement. It is wholly owned by the Reuben Brothers.