LONDON Oxford Airport bosses yesterday said they had taken a major step towards making it an international hub, as its first service jetted off to New York.

Holidaymakers boarded the 90-seater aircraft for JFK via Dublin at noon yesterday and were due to land in New York at 11.20pm GMT. Managers at the Kidlington airport said while the flight was not sold out, most seats were filled and it had encouraged them in their bid to reach more destinations.

They hope to strike a deal with airlines KLM and Aer Lingus to eventually fly daily charter jets to Dublin, Amsterdam and Munich, linking to global airports.

David Gambier, managing director of Oxford Airport Travel, the tour operator behind the flight, said: “The idea is you wouldn’t have to go to Heathrow to do your long-haul flying.”

He said he would like two flights a week “at least” to each airport during 2012.

Parking is £5 a day compared to £17 long stay at Heathrow, 50 miles from Oxford, though New York flights started at £795 compared to about £350 on website Expedia.

Bicester resident Laurie Fray, 67, said he was delighted to be flying from his home county with friend Jenni Duckworth, 73.

The retired communications boss said: “The wonderful thing here is if you are last in, there are only 49 people in front of you in the queue if you are on a 50-seater aircraft.”