The boom is 'costing the region three times more than it gains'

Friends of the Earth said the boom in aviation is costing the region three times more than it gains.

Using data from the Office of National Statistics, it said UK travellers are spending �2.7bn more abroad per year than foreigners flying to the area.

But managers at the region's main airports - Gatwick, Lydd, Biggin Hill and Manston - insist expansion plans will bring huge economic benefits.

Proposals are being considered to build a second runway for Gatwick airport.

Local businesses are missing out on millions of pounds every year and airport expansion will make this worse Brenda Pollack, Friends of the Earth

While the owners of Lydd airport on Romney Marsh in Kent, want to be able to handle jet aircraft, serving up to two million passengers every year, increasing to six million by 2021.

The number of aircraft movements at Biggin Hill airport is limited to 125,000 per year. There are plans to re-introduce scheduled passenger services at the airport.

Meanwhile, despite the recent collapse of EUjet who flew out of Kent International Airport at Manston, local people had been asked for their views on the possibility of expanding the site.

But the environmental campaigners claim the growth of airports would encourage more passengers to travel abroad, meaning the annual deficit would also increase.

Brenda Pollack, Friends of the Earth's South East Campaigner, said: "We know airport expansion is bad for the environment. These figures show it is bad for the South East's economy too.

"Local businesses are missing out on millions of pounds every year and airport expansion will make this worse, encouraging people to take more and more short trips abroad."