THE expansion of services at Kent International Airport has started helping other firms grow as well as directly providing jobs for local people.

Sue Taylor won the contract to run the two cafes on the site, both land and air side, and spent the first day of flights checking everything was running smoothly in the cafes, which are named after clouds, Nimbos and Cirrus.

“I’m very pleased with how everything’s going,” she said. “We have had just a month to get all the work done we needed but I am happy with how it has turned out.

“We are very busy and that’s great,” she said.

Computing firm Business Computer Solutions already looks after the computing needs of the airport and was also brought into fit out the terminal with all the computers needed to bring the building up to scratch.

Staff worked nearly round the clock to make sure everything was up and running. Service engineer Clive Morley was on hand at 4am to make sure check-in staff had no problems.

And coach firm King’s Ferry has launched Aero Shuttle which takes travellers and residents alike to the Medway towns and Bluewater.

Project Manager Trevor Post said: “We were approached by the airport and asked if we would be interested in running a service.

“This is great news for us and travellers but also for local people as the service we run is idea for people who people who want to go shopping.

“You do not have to have come into the area on a plane it is open to everyone.”