Managers from Lydd Airport are visiting Dubai (file picture)

Lydd Airport bosses are exhibiting their newly-approved expansion plans in the Middle East from today.

Managers have travelled to the Dubai Airport Show where they will promote their plans for a runway extension and new terminal to more than 200 companies from 32 countries.

The team will be networking at the premier aviation industry event, which is being held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre until Wednesday.

Following government approval of its planning application, Lydd Holdings - which owns and operates the airport - is to invest £25million into the development.

This is for a 294-metre runway extension, plus a 150-metre starter extension and an new terminal building for up to 500,000 passengers a year.

The owners have already spent £35m upgrading the site over the last year including installing a new executive terminal with VIP facilities, improved passenger check-in and security and a new departure lounge.

Executive manager Hani Mutlaq (pictured right) said: "Our runway extension will enable Boeing 737-type aircraft to fly with a full payload of passengers, maximising the availability of routes and aircraft choice of operators and providing much-needed additional airport capacity in the south east of England.

"Lydd Airport is the perfect base for airline operators. It has 2.5million people within its catchment area, is within easy access of the M20 and just 14 miles south of Ashford, which offers a high-speed rail link to London."

Lydd managers will promote the airport at a number of other national and international aviation shows this year, including the EBACE (European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition), in Geneva on May 21 to 23.

In the meantime the airport has begun to work on the pre-development conditions.

Planning permission had originally been granted by Shepway district councillors in March 2010 and that is now backed up by the government approval, announced on April 10, following a public inquiry.

Aircraft at Lydd Airport