Jobs and freight have taken off at Kent International Airport as it aims to become as busy as its Scottish partner.

Manston now employs 93 people, up 12 in the past 18 months. The total number of people now employed directly at the airport is now more than 100.

During March, the Manston terminal handled 3,602 tonnes of inbound freight, up from 2,610 tonnes in the same time a year ago and a rise of 38 per cent.

The total tonnage of freight during the 2007-8 financial year was 32,624, up 26 per cent on the previous year’s total.

Infratil, the New Zealand-based airport owner, is now listed in the NZX 10 Index, the largest and most frequently traded shares in New Zealand companies.

Infratil’s other UK airport Glasgow Prestwick also reported a strong performance in March, handling more than 192,000 passengers, up by nearly 12,000 on the same month in 2007.

Glasgow Prestwick handled 2,426,630 passengers from April 2007 to March 2008, up slightly on the previous year.

Airport chief executive Matt Clarke said: "Our ambition is to emulate the success of Glasgow Prestwick at Kent International. A recent economic study found that inbound visitors using Glasgow Prestwick spent £173 million last year, while the airport’s presence accounts for 3,000 jobs in Scotland."

KIA is also hoping for a successful holiday season, with the return of Kent Escapes charter operation serving eight destinations.

Channel Islands Travel is operating flights to Jersey for the first time, and Newmarket Holidays is offering holidays in Austria, Croatia, Madeira and Malta from Manston.

Mr Clarke said: “The last 12 months have been significant with the recruitment of more people, investment in our freight handling facilities and the launch of new charter routes to exciting and popular destinations for Kent holidaymakers.”