OXFORD'S airport has been recognised as a ‘significant player’ in aviation as it continues to make the case for expansion.

The airport has been crowned the winner of the ‘Best Innovation in Business Aviation’ award for the second year running.

Sapphire Pegasus, an international awards scheme, honoured the airport after it has established itself as one of the fastest growing business airports in the UK over the last ten years.

Airport bosses want to expand and re-instate short haul commercial flights to destinations such as Dublin and Edinburgh but need a bigger runway which would encroach onto the Green Belt.

Commander Bud Slabbaert handed over the award at a ceremony in Geneva during the EBACE conference for aviation.

He said: "London Oxford Airport has grown to become a significant player in business aviation.

“Years ago when they rebranded they were determined and resolute to get positioned among the best.

“Now they can proudly claim to be an award-winning business aviation airport.”

The airport is one of only a handful of UK business airports that has seen consistent growth over the past 10 years and remains one of the top 20 busiest European business airports.

It has recently added a 16,000sq ft hangar to house both home-based and visiting business jets and is seeking to install ‘precision approaches’ at both ends of the runway to improve the ability of jets to land in poor weather.

In further developments, a 101-room Premier Inn hotel next to the airport entrance is scheduled to open next summer.

Guests are expected to include air crew, aircraft owners and friends and families visiting cadets based at nearby pilot training schools.

Managing director of London Oxford Airport, Andi Alexander, said: “We’re delighted to be recognised for the second year in succession, especially surrounded by our peers at EBACE.

“It’s an excellent endorsement for us which has been achieved by the sheer hard work and dedication of our great team and our continued investment in the airport.”

Commercial services to Jersey, Dublin and Edinburgh have flown from Oxford in the past decade but proved unsuccessful.

Last year Oxford Aviation Ltd argued said it needed better passenger facilities and a bigger runway to attract small regional airliners.

Until the airport is able to expand, the only route likely to be re-instated is flights to Edinburgh.

Together with RAF Brize Norton, the airport is also seeking to triple the ‘controlled airspace’ in the area but amateur pilots are opposed to the plans and have launched a petition claiming it is an ‘enormous threat to free flying’.