The airport handles about 830,000 passengers a year

Tynwald has voted in support of the grant, which would improve the departure lounge, providing 70 more seats upstairs and 100 downstairs.

There will also be six departure gates, two more than the existing four.

It is expected that work on the airport could start soon and be completed before the summer of 2007.

The current facilities can accommodate 750,000 passengers a year, but the airport now handles about 830,000 passengers a year.