Charter company Kent Escapes is operating return flights to Portugal and Spain every Thursday until October.

Steve Fitzgerald, chief executive of Infratil Airports Europe, said the service was already popular.

"The first flight to Faro was near capacity and there is a good load on the Barcelona flight," he said.

"The airport is exceptionally easy to use," he added.

Infratil took over the airport in August 2005 and a freight service has been in operation since September.

Mr Fitzgerald said his company is aiming for more freight, charter and passenger flights over the next two years.