Exeter Airport saw passenger numbers increase by 36% in 2005

A report to owner Devon County Council on Monday says the time is right to inject private finance into the airport to ensure its continued success.

Exeter Airport saw a 36% rise in passenger numbers last year, up from 618,201 to 842,461.

Previous hopes of a sale fell through when the winning South West Airports Consortium (SWAC) withdrew in the face of a Competition Commission probe.