Hundreds of new jobs are to be created at Gatwick.

Virgin Atlantic today announced plans for 300 new posts at the airport over the next eight months.

It will be the airline's first recruitment drive since the September 11 terror attacks on the United States.

Virgin, which employs 6,800 people worldwide, axed 1,300 jobs following the attacks.

The airline will recruit 200 cabin crew and 100 reservations and office staff.

The posts are needed because of an increase in services to destinations including, New York, Orlando, Lagos and Shanghai and the introduction of the larger A340-600 aircraft due to enter service this summer.

A hundred staff who took unpaid leave after September 11 will have the chance to apply for the new jobs although Virgin expects most of the posts to be filled by people new to the airline.

Virgin chairman Sir Richard Branson said: "I am delighted to be able to announce this recruitment drive and to offer our staff who took unpaid leave last year the opportunity to rejoin the company.

"This recruitment drive is an endorsement of our decisive action last September.

"We reacted more quickly than our rivals and as a result we quickly stabilised the company.

"We need to maintain our control of costs and grow revenues in all cabins but we are looking to the future with rising optimism.

"This summer will see us increase services around our network and also take delivery of new aircraft, hence the need to recruit.

"The airline can offer fantastic opportunities to all successful applicants, despite the challenges of these last few months.

"We still aim to be the airline which people love to fly and where people love to work."