OXFORD Airport has been handed a double boost after it emerged business flights are soaring, and its popular winter route to Geneva is set to return.

The Kidlington airport was dealt a major blow last month when its first daily service to Edinburgh was grounded after just a week as the airline Varsity Express collapsed.

However, Swiss carrier Baboo will recommence weekly Saturday flights for skiers and holidaymakers to Switzerland’s second city from December 11 until Easter 2011.

Meanwhile, new figures show that over the past year business aviation traffic has risen by 12 per cent, with the airport performing particularly strongly in the first three months of the year, despite the bad weather.

Between January and March, business traffic rose by 25 per cent as the airport drafted in snowploughs to open every day during the ice and snow while rival airports such as London City and London Luton cancelled all flights.

The airport now sees an average of 20 business aircraft arriving or departing every day – approximately 6,000 movements a year.

Managing director Steve Jones said: “We are very proud of our achievements.

“Our private business aircraft handler oxfordjet continued to grow steadily despite the global economic downturn and bucked all trends, with jet aircraft movements by visiting jets climbing significantly.

“This reflects the continued expansion of awareness of London Oxford Airport.”