Around 200 new jobs could be created if plans announced by Kent International Airport for 11 more jumbo jet flights, take off at Manston.

The request to Thanet District Council was put forward by Infratil last week.

Cllr Sandy Ezekiel said: “It’s encouraging that major airlines and industries are looking at Thanet now, which is what we wanted when we said we were open for business.”

An extraordinary meeting of the council’s cabinet has been called to discuss the issue on Thursday (12 February).

The flights will be freight and cargo journeys, not passenger trips, and could start as early as May and could mean 747s based at the Thanet airport.