OXFORD Airport has been handed a double boost by airlines offering more flights for holidaymakers and businessmen from the city.

The Channel Islands Travel Group has confirmed it will operate an extended season of flights from Oxford to Jersey this year meaning an increase of 350 seats to the island.

Seventeen Saturday flights will depart from Kidlington between May 22 and September 11, compared with just 10 last year.

The tour operator decided to expand the service after 93 per cent of seats were sold on the route in 2009, the first charter flights from Oxford to Jersey in 19 years.

The recently renamed London Oxford Airport has also welcomed a new firm running two Embraer Phenom jets across Europe.

Flairjet, becomes the seventh company to offer private business charter jets from Oxford in a move that has created 10 new jobs, five of which have been filled by Oxfordshire residents.

Airport managing director Steve Jones said: “We are very happy to see the return of the regular Jersey charter fights for 2010.

“The flights will continue to operate from our business aviation terminal, providing passengers with state-of-the-art facilities and our beautifully appointed passenger lounge.

“The Jersey route is the perfect complement to our new winter service to Geneva.”

Airport marketing manager James Dillon-Godfray said flights to Geneva had proved popular, with 46 passengers boarding the maiden flight from Oxford last month.

Robert Mackenzie, managing director of tour operator CI Travel, said: “The first year of operation from Oxford was extremely successful and that has encouraged us not only to return but to extend our operation, almost doubling the capacity on the route.

“We got a lot of feedback last year that people didn’t just want to get stuck in the summer holiday season but to fly in May and June as well.”

Flights to Jersey will again take place on 50-seat Bombardier aircraft.

Flairjet’s maiden flight to Dublin departed in snowy conditions from Kidlington on Tuesday. Bosses plan to buy three more jets by May.

Flairjet chief executive David Fletcher said: “We chose Oxford because it has very good links to London and because it is outside the London aviation area we can guarantee our passengers minimum delays.”