An abandoned airport in Kent, England, may well be opening its doors once again for commercial travelers with demand for European flights rising. Manston Airport initially closed down in 2014 after airlines began to move their custom elsewhere, but bosses are now hopeful that the airport will be able to resume commercial operations in 2028.
After closing nearly a decade ago, the airport has been used as an emergency overflow car park for lorries operating across the English Channel. When these services are disrupted, the airport is used to house lorries to prevent them from having to park up on the motorway.
The airport was thrust into the limelight in 2020 when French officials closed the border with England due to a new strain of coronavirus. As a result, hundreds of lorries were left parked on the runway at Manston.
From 2025, though, the airport’s runway will once again be used for aircraft rather than heavy goods vehicles. Airport bosses have been given the green light to open the airport back up for cargo flights with a view to passenger flights returning three years later.
As a result, various renovations are set to take place in the coming years to get it in a presentable shape. The airport has undergone several changes over the years after initially being used as the home of the Royal Air Force for World War One and World War Two.
Flying From Manston
The last commercial flight out of Manston was a KLM flight to Amsterdam, Netherlands, and travelers will once again be able to head to the dutch capital from Kent. RiverOak Strategic Partners, who bought the site for £14 million over five years ago, are also planning on adding budget flights to Spain, Cyprus, and Malta, among others.
Bosses are in talks with popular budget European airlines, including Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air. They are hoping that many of them will get on board and put on flights providing the cargo side of things goes according to plan from 2025 onwards.
These Airlines will also be keeping a close eye on how the renovations at the airport go. In addition to revamped terminals, a new runway is needed, with costs expected to exceed £500 million. If changes don’t meet certain standards, then it is unlikely that many airlines will be prepared to set up base there, especially with so many other airports nearby.
Manston is close to Stanstead airport and Luton airport, with thousands of budget flights going out each year.
In a statement, RiverOak Strategic Partners have said:
“Once re-opened, Manston will help the UK trade across the globe, importing vital and time-sensitive goods, including fresh fruit and medical supplies, providing air freight operators with a realistic alternative to the overcrowded London airports, easing the considerable road congestion caused by lorries carrying freight through the channel tunnel to European airports and improvising resilience and boost economic growth and jobs in Kent.”
Overcoming Hurdles
This announcement will be a significant victory for RiverOak Strategic Partners. They have been looking to re-open the airport for some time but have faced constant push-back from local planners.
The plans had been recommended for refusal by the Planning Inspectorate for several reasons, including the notion that the proposals for the airport didn’t offer anything different from the airports nearby.
Additionally, there were, and still are, concerns about the negative impact the new plans will have on the environment and local area.
