Manston Airport, a former passenger hub in Kent that has been abandoned for over a decade, could soon see its runway reactivated. The airport, which last operated commercial flights in 2012 and was fully shuttered in 2014, is now the subject of a public consultation that includes proposed flight paths and future operational details.
History of Decline and Closure
Once known as Kent International Airport and briefly as London Manston Airport, the site served holiday hotspots including Italy, Amsterdam, and Portugal. Airlines such as Flybe and KLM operated from Manston, and there were even plans for a transatlantic route to Norfolk, Virginia, which was cancelled due to low bookings. By 2012, Flybe was the only remaining airline, and after it withdrew services, the airport closed to passengers. The final flight departed on April 9, 2014, and the airport was officially shuttered a few weeks later.
Recent Developments and Future Plans
RiverOak Strategic Partners (RSP) purchased the site several years ago and has expressed ambitions to restore passenger services. Tony Freudmann, director of RSP, told KentOnline in 2022: "Looking at the way the passenger market is going, we are confident we can persuade one or more low-cost carriers to base their planes here." However, the current focus of the Reopening Manston page is on the airport's potential as a freight hub, suggesting passenger services may not resume immediately.
Public Consultation Underway
A public consultation is currently active, with details on flight paths and other aspects being unveiled. RSP has launched a dedicated page to provide updates, though it emphasises cargo operations. The airport has also served as a lorry park to ease post-Brexit queues in Kent.
Historical Significance
Manston first opened as RAF Manston during World War I and became a strategic base in World War II. It was used by Barnes Wallis to test the bouncing bomb later deployed in the Dambusters Raid. By the 1960s, it hosted both military and charter flights. The terminal was opened by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, in 1989 when it became Kent International Airport. Airlines such as Inter European Airways and EUjet operated from Manston before its decline.
