Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Attempting to book flights on KLM's website this morning reveals that their last flights are on April 8th. Arse. In future we drive to Paris CDG for our long haul flights.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 1694- Registered: 24 Feb 2016
- Posts: 1,087
Oh ***** hell. We were all going to fly from there via AMS to the Philippines in December to see Lorna's family. I hate Heathrow.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
You will have heard on various media in the past day or two that the potential buyer for Manston has pulled out...
...moves are afoot however...
JOINT STATEMENT FROM SIR ROGER GALE MP AND LAURA SANDYS MP
Thanet MPs Meet Business Minister in Bid to Secure Manston's Future
STATEMENT: SIR ROGER GALE MP - LAURA SANDYS MP
Following a meeting with Michael Fallon, Minister of State for Business at the Department for BIS this (Thursday) afternoon MPs Laura Sandys (South Thanet) and Sir Roger Gale (North Thanet) have said in a joint statement:
"It was a most useful and productive meeting. The Minister of State has agreed to throw his weight behind the Manston Working Group, and if the future of the airport can be secured under new ownership we believe that very considerable practical support will be forthcoming from both BIS and the Department of Transport. Added to the backing of Kent County Council and Thanet District Council this adds up to a considerable force for success.
"The Minister has also undertaken to examine two specific and significant suggestions that we have put to him.
"Following from the response made by the Leader of the House in the Commons earlier today, it is clear that there is a considerable Government desire to see Manston continue as an operating airport in the national interest."
-ENDS-
Picture: Sir Roger Gale, Minister of State for Business Michael Fallon, and Laura Sandys.
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
KLM flew off into the sunset today from Manston Airport. A real shame their hand was forced by the new owner.
Looks like we're about to see the dismantling of another piece of economic infrastructure in East Kent. Seems a bizarre decision when all the talk is about the need for new runway capacity in the south east!
Guest 725- Registered: 7 Oct 2011
- Posts: 1,418
Laura Sandys and Roger Gale must be rubbing their hands with glee, surely? The demise of the airport means that there will be fewer flights meaning lower emissions. To react any other way is to be a very, very odd person indeed.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Again the only way forward on this one is the locals back off and let there be drawing made up to make the airport bigger and they also need to be run by Easy jet or a company like that and that company making it their HQ with new roads and railway into London.The public need to get to and from London in 1hour
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
I guess that's one way of looking at it, PhilipP. But along with lower emissions, you can also add lower economic activity, with already high levels of unemployment in Thanet.
Environmental concerns need to be balanced with the need for radical action to help rebalance the economy in the south east. Either way, it looks like another runway is going to be built in the south east at some stage. With the imminent closure of Manston the environment still takes a hit as everyone will have to travel to Gatwick or Heathrow, predominantly by road as there is no direct rail connection to the London airports from Kent.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
It sounds like the new owners of Manston bought it (for just £1) to close it down - it would make them a lot of money if it was developed for housing - I really hope this doesn't happen.
The people of Thanet who voted no to night flights, have contributed to this closure; they should have voted yes for that and for greater expansion.
What is so "un" special/bad about Manston ? Lydd Airport is having millions spent on its expansion ? Is it the way the Airport is marketed, the owners long-term intent, or that Manston is just in the wrong location - close to the coast so less disruption to residents ?
This is wrong on so many levels.
Would Forumites wish to get involved in this ? I just signed the petition "Why not Make Manston Airport the Next Big South Airport"; would you add your name too ?
This campaign may help - it may not, but the more support behind it, the better chance there is of it succeeding. You can read more and sign the petition here:
http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/why-not-make-manston-airport-the-next-big-south-airport
Can you also take a moment to share the petition with others? It's really easy - all you need to do is forward this email or
Share on your Facebook or Twitter.
Roger
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Double post - sorry.
Roger
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Third post - silly me !
Roger
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
I've signed, Roger. There's no doubt in my mind that if they are saying Manston is not viable as an airport, then Lydd definitely isn't! I think this is a classic example of where an East Kent solution was required. There should have been more joined-up thinking to back one airport and throw resources behind it.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Indeed Kevin - a bit like the Discovery Park at Sandwich.
Roger
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,811
"It sounds like the new owners of Manston bought it (for just £1) to close it down - it would make them a lot of money if it was developed for housing"
I think that sentence from Roger just about sums up the owner's intent from the very start.
Properly marketed Manston must surely be a better site for an airport than Lydd considering the road structure surrounding each area. From a safety point of view surely Dungerness is far too near Lydd should there be a major accident and isn't the bird and nature reserve Lydd's next door neighbour.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Manston's future ought to lie in a combination of all or most of the following:
1. regional hub for a low-cost airline such as easyJet, Ryanair or flyBe,
2. centre of excellence for private and commercial pilot training,
3. cargo terminal particularly for perishables destined for the London wholesale markets,
4. centre of excellence for maintenance and repair of commercial jets,
5. private aviation generally, from microlights to executive jets,
6. diversion airfield for emergency purposes,
7. search and rescue base,
8. base for charter airlines.
This airport can handle any plane ever built. It has our fourth longest runway and the widest runway in Europe. The approach flight path is mostly over water. The airport area has huge open spaces with potential for the building of hangars, maintenance facilities, additional terminals etc. Road links are good and not much efforrt would be required to upgrade Minster station to a Manston Parkway handling a Javelin every 15 minutes, with shuttles to the airport.
But the residents of Ramsgate will have to put up with a bit of noise. Isn't that worth thousands of possible extra jobs?
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
peter,your point 1 is a bit off,2 of the 3 airlines you mentiond there have been at manstone,easy jet dosent seem to be intressted in going there.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
So their reasons why need to be ascertained and addressed.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Good post Peter, so why hasn't Manston been promoted/marketed in that way ? (I know you can't answer that).
I do think the Marketing Manager has failed the airport and East Kent.
Roger
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
Bit harsh on the marketing manager, Roger! They need to get the strategy right first.
There's no doubt passenger business is always a challenge for an airport surrounded by water on three sides. The commercial director of a major UK airline told me that directly. Having said that, Stobart have succeeded with Southend and their relationship with easyJet.
Peter makes a good point that they should have used the airport's existing infrastructure to develop allied airfield businesses, such as training, maintenance, etc. And, of course, the powers that be should have given them the flexibility to handle more cargo.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I didn't think so Kevin, it seems to me that the strategy they did have for freight and holidays, simply wasn't promoted well enough.
I would have thought that Infratil, a fairly recent previous owener, would have had a pretty good strategy as they are successful airport owners.
The owners of Stagecoach wouldn't have time to create a good strategy for the airport, other than close it down.
Roger
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Much as I am against government intervention, here is a case for it. It's a national and regional asset which must be retained.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
