AIRCRAFT manufacturer Boeing will build a new maintenance hangar at Gatwick, creating more than 100 jobs.

Boeing was granted planning permission on Wednesday night for the new facility.

Construction work is expected to start later this year, ready for operation in early 2019.

The facility is expected to contribute £80 million to the local economy and support 475 local jobs.

At least 100 new jobs will be created at the £88 million hangar.

The facility will also add engineering capacity at Gatwick to support airlines as the airport continues its growth in both short and long haul services.

Mike Fleming, vice president of fleet services for Boeing Commercial Aviation Services said: “This is an important investment for Boeing as we commit still further to our customers in the UK and across the European region.

“We look forward to working with Gatwick Airport, the local authority and regulators to support our customers in Europe through our world-class commercial aviation services business.”

Gatwick’s chief commercial officer Guy Stephenson, said: “Since coming into independent ownership, Gatwick has achieved record levels of growth in the numbers of passengers and flights supported by more than £1.3 billion of investment in infrastructure, technology and passenger facilities. This new partnership with Boeing will help us to ensure that we can continue to grow and support our operations – especially in our burgeoning long haul services – and provide world class facilities for our airlines.”

An environmental study on the local area was carried out before planning permission was applied for.

Sir Michael Arthur, managing director of Boeing UK and Ireland. added: “The UK is a crucial country for us and represents a prime location for our business supporting airlines in Europe and beyond.

“We have doubled our UK workforce over the last five years and this new development would continue this growth trajectory into the future, delivering prosperity to this country in partnership with the UK industry and our customers.”

Boeing employs more than 4,000 people across Europe, including 2,000 in the UK.

Gatwick supports more than 30,000 jobs across the region.

The airport had its busiest ever summer holiday season this year.

A staggering 8.1 million passengers travelled through the airport over the seven-week period, a 2.1% increase on 2016.

In August alone, 4.9 million passengers passed through the terminals.