Up to 100 jobs are to be created at a Devon airport with the expansion of engineering facilities and the building of a new hangar.

The fleet of airline Flybe is maintained by its sister company, British European Aviation Services (BEAS), at the airport, which is to build the new hangar.

BEAS also services the aircraft of other airlines from all over Europe and is taking on more work.

The company will be building the new hangar in 2003 to ensure it can cope with this expansion, which is currently worth �20m a year to the firm.

International repairs

BEAS carries out repairs for 60 airlines based across Europe, as well as in China. It also carries out work for British Airways.

Recent new clients for the company include Tyrolean in Austria, Ausburg Airways in Germany and Chang An in China.

Building work on the proposed new 3,500 square metre hanger will start in May 2003, and should be complete by next December.

Flybe managing director Jim French said: "The group's engineering facility continues to go from strength to strength."