OXFORD Airport experienced 7.5 per cent growth in commercial business aviation flights in the year to February 2015 as the privately owned operation looks to increase its activity.

Much of the rise in commercial business flights was generated by air traffic originating from the United States and Canada, said the airport, which is located near Kidlington.

Air cargo activity jumped 90 per cent in the 12 months to February, following a 100 per cent spike in 2013.

Tony Farmer, the airport’s head of sales and route development, said the rapid growth in air cargo was largely due to local businesses requiring components for just-in-time production.

He said: “Oxfordshire as a county has got significant manufacturers and they’ve got to keep the supply chain going.”

But he added air cargo movements only made up a “very small proportion” of the approximately 40,000 landings/departures at the airport each year.

He said the “vast majority” of activity still involved the airport’s resident pilot training school, the CAE Oxford Aviation Academy.

Oxford Airport is currently in discussions with Oxfordshire County Council and Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership to start a small number of commuter service flights (as distinct from commercial business flights) to western Europe.

Mr Farmer stressed this could be achieved without expanding the airport.

He said: “There is no plan to change the infrastructure of the airport.”

Commuter service flights could commence as early as next year.

Oxford Airport’s ultimate owner is Reuben Brothers.