26 FEBRUARY 2018

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Article from BTNews 26 FEBRUARY 2018

Ryanair eyes Manston

A proposal to reopen Manston Airport in Kent has won the backing of Ryanair, which is reported to have told supporters it is interested in basing up to four aircraft there if the plan goes ahead. The facility closed in 2014.

The company behind the bid, RiverOak Strategic Partnerships, told Kent Online it is trying to secure a development consent order from transport secretary Chris Grayling which would force the airport’s current owner, Stone Hill Park, to sell the property.

If the bid succeeds, RiverOak says it aims to redevelop Manston into a cargo airport focused on day-time operations, but also hopes to attract scheduled passenger service with Ryanair.

RiverOak managing director Tony Freudmann said "It's no secret that they (Ryanair) have no presence south of the Thames, save for a few flights at Gatwick. They have huge plans to expand.

“They fly 125m passengers a year at the moment and they want 200m by 2024. Some of that increase will come from south-east England, and Manston would be the logical place,".

RiverOak also hopes to lure back KLM, which connected Manston with Amsterdam before the airport closed. Stone Hill is seeking to build a housing project on the airport grounds.

www.supportmanstonairport.org  www.rsp.co.uk

www.stonehillpark.co.uk  www.ryanair.com

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum


Christine Quick, London

In the late 1940s early 50s, I lived in Westgate-on-sea when Manston was a USAF base. Many of my school friends were american and I spent many happy hours on the base. One day, my father rushed indoors and asked me to join him outside. Within a few minutes, there was the very loud noise of aircraft engines and an enormous aircraft flew over our heads at not a great height. My father looked down at me and said "Christine, you have just seen the Brabazon." I have been unable to confirm my memory - can anyone help?


RICHARD WIGGINS, UK

I used MSE a lot in my past life as GSM MK AIRLINES 747F company and enjoyed every moment of their service standards. . Two important issues are that MSE is on the flight path control of LONDON AIRWAYS (a very busy air routing ATC control zone)and that the THANET COUNCIL currently have a pinative NOISE ABATEMENT PENALTY FEE in which the individual aircraft hull is identified and the fine DOUBLES every time the noise limitation is exceeded, thus making is unattractive to use a dedicated fleet of aircraft based there or regularly landing there for fear of the extreme penalties levied if the noise barreir is broken!!! . The encouragement to re-open MSE isa welcome thought in my opinion but you will have to re-wrie the council bye-laws and staffing levels first to make it an economic choice of base


Angela Stevens, Kent

Looking forward to Manston Airport reopening. It has a huge runway lying idle since 2014. ALL regional airfields should be protected! The UK aviation situation is dire! Manston as a new cargo and passenger hub is vital for the UK.


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