A very great shame indeed.
Many of us hoped MSE would be the centre of regeneration for this area, but this is clearly not happening.
There are folk who have direct MSE-related interests who, understandably, get excited by each imaginary or real new activity (Cargolux being the latest), but it never amounts to anything significant.
What really matters now is -
A) A realistic aviation strategy for the south-east.
B) Employment.
Like it or not, this means we must now look to Lydd.
If MSE cannot attract enough business to form a regional base, we must hope that LYX can do so, and provide new jobs for the committed and professional team at Manston (a lousy commute for some, but better than the dole queue).
The big issue, of course, is this-
MSE is currently failing without competition from Lydd.
If Lydd is to have a chance, is it fair to expect it to develop with the reputation of MSE casting it's long shadow?
I have no idea if this airport can succeed or not, but it could certainly do without the albatross of Manston around it's neck.