Shoreham Airport could soon be operating passenger flights to and from six European cities.

The inaugural journey from Sussex to Le Touquet in northern France takes place on May 18 with a full service starting on June 2.

The airport authority has already announced plans to run flights to Cardiff in the near future, but industry insiders have revealed talks are taking place to run business services to Manchester, Ostend, Paris and Brussels.

One, who did not wish to be named, said: "There are big plans for Shoreham Airport. Several large companies are interested in running flights to and from there. It's a prime location, being on the South Coast and near the continent.

"Aviation companies are keen to make as much money as they can from it."

The service to Le Touquet will use 16-seater Trilander aircraft, while Dornier 228 planes could fly to Cardiff.They will have silencing devices fitted to minimise disruption to people nearby.

Eventually Shoreham Airport could be a destination for 70-seater planes if Environment Secretary John Prescott approves plans.

Coun Mike Middleton, chairman of the airport's management committee, said he could not confirm the destinations being looked at, but added: "We have been in discussions and these are exciting times for us.

"We may only be a little airport in terms of places like Gatwick and Heathrow, but that makes us better for business trade.

"People don't want to wait around for flights for too long.It would be a massive boost to the local economy if more passengers used Shoreham. It could mean millions of pounds extra every year."

The restaurant has had a refit and plans to reopen Shoreham Airport railway station, closed since the Second World War, have been submitted to Railtrack.

Coun Middleton added: "If we really get things going here it could mean a substantial change for the better. We are a community airport and it will be the community which benefits."

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