Airport 'could be best in region'
BBC News
29 August 2005

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4193304.stm

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40109000/jpg/_40109052_eujet203.jpg
EUjet flew from Manston until its parent firm went bust in July

http://www.mlcengland.com/images/news/manston_map.gif
Map showing Kent International Airports proximity to London

The newly-sold Kent International Airport could become the South East's most successful airport, according to the leader of the local council.
The airport, at Manston, closed in July when owner PlaneStation went bust.

It was bought by New Zealand-based air operator Infratil last week, with the firm saying it would like Ryanair to fly from Manston.

Thanet Council leader Sandy Ezekiel said a successful Manston Airport could boost the economy of the whole of Kent.

Budget airline EUjet began running passenger flights from Manston in September 2004 but passenger numbers never reached the levels hoped for.

God willing, we will have the most successful airport in the South East of England

Thanet Council leader Sandy Ezekiel

In July, PlaneStation, which owned both the airport and EUjet, went into administration and flights stopped immediately, leaving about 5,000 passengers stranded abroad.

Infratil bought the airport for £17m last week.

Cllr Ezekiel told BBC Radio Kent: "There's nothing going to be rushed, they're not talking about Ryanair moving in within six months or two million passengers within six months.

"They've got a gradual business plan which shows fairly substantial losses for a three year period, but after that, God willing, we will have the most successful airport in the South East of England.

"It's not just Thanet's economy that will grow strongly, it's the whole of east Kent, if not Kent, which will grow and benefit from Manston's development."

on my way to margate, i passed by manston once. To be honest o doubt it will be very sucessful - it's got very poor transport and because it's on the coast and in central kent doesn't have a huge catchment area.

Also given stansted is ryanair's main london hub with some flights to luton and gatwick I doubt ryanair would consider a 4th london hub at mansted sorry

Now if your talking about an airport at Ashford or Mainstone.... definately.

I agree, its far to remote for any hope of passenger numbers. Currently it takes over an hour and half to get to London. Things might improve in 2009 when the domestic hogh speed line trains are running. Even with that it will still be further than Luton or Stansted.

How many people live in the county alone? Could it not draw on the Kent population? It doesn't have to make Kent Int'l a hub, but maybe a few flights a week from Ryanair or easyJet would make a positive difference.

I flew from Manston to Geneva and back with EUjet (RIP) back in March, for about £10 each way :)

Bit of a trek to get there from Wakefield though :D

IMO- bad news. The demand for air travel should be spread across existing airports in the UK, not just SE and rail travel to europe should be improved to provide a real alternative to flying.

It's 34 miles from London to Stansted, 30 from London to Gatwick and 42 miles from London to Manston, so it's only 8 miles further from London than Stansted. It's also a lot quicker travelling through Kent than rush hour London and if the transport infastructure to Manston was improved with an Express train service and better road links, then I am sure this airport could be successful in the same way as many other regional airports. :)

I have read about Biggin Hill being too close to existing London Airports to merit major expansion.

So is Manston to far away, while Biggin Hill is to Close ????

Luton is planning a second runway, Heathrow a fifth, Stansted three and Gatwick's future plans are still unresolved.

I think Kent International will certainly make a good European hub, and take some of the pressure off the other London Airports in the same way Luton does to the north of London :)