MANSTON -3

[Andy_S]

Originally Posted by LadyL2013

I guess if Manston closes it's going to make the case for various SE airport expansion even stronger.

I can't see it would make the slightest bit of difference.

MSE didn't handle a significant volume of passengers, nor was it likely to. The impact of it's closure on other airports in SE England will be negligible.

[NorthSouth]

Down the road at Lydd we've had government approval for development to handle half a million pax, but no sign of construction starting. There will be some who'll argue that Lydd's future looks brighter if Manston closes. But I can't see it resulting in any greater commercial air transport interest in Lydd.

[racedo]

Hidden agenda? You realise that Ann Gloag can’t just close the place down and start building houses on it……. If the local authority (and I believe that many councillors are keen on keeping the place running as an airport) refuse planning permission, then she can’t. End of story.

Appeal to Sec of State and it will happen.

Don't forget new town at Ebbsfleet up the road and there will be a push for new industries to come in.

Sadly I think its a 5 year done deal.

[Out Of Trim]

Not sure I'd be doing much digging for housing on that site! I was stationed there from 1979-1982 and recall that the whole airfield was heavily mined to detonate the area in case of Invasion.

Some clearance was carried out by the Canadians after the war. However some of these huge pipe bombs were found around 1981 and there were some large controlled explosions carried out that I was witness to.

I wouldn't mind betting that there are plenty left to be discovered if you go digging!

[Red Four]

Am I missing something, or is the last KLM bookable on the 29th March?

[NickBarnes]

It would appear they are pulling the plug on the route now

[LadyL2013]

A family member works at Lydd and she is of the opinion Lydd expansion is more the idea of an owner with more money than sense.

I do think Manston could have been a successful cargo/low cost airport if it had had the right investments. IT just feels like it has been set up to fail.

[welkyboy]

KLM flights to Amsterdam are still available to book after 29/3...

[Red Four]

KLM flights to Amsterdam are still available to book after 29/3...

So I see now, but still nothing after 8th April?

[onyxcrowle]

Why close it though if Ebbs fleet is coming. Might this not end up like a reviled beeching cut a few years down the road.
Or is Lydd a better proposal and is it better suited (im not familiar with that region so cant place Lydd off hand)

[davidjohnson6]

http://maps.google.com/

[asdf1234]

Manston Closure

Given that Manston Airport is insolvent it makes sense to close it. This gets rid of the debts owing, the onerous employment contracts, etc... There is nothing stopping the current owner then buying the airport out of administration and having a leaner company with which to go forward. I suspect what we are seeing here is a classic pre-pack administration to enable the owner to cut costs and move forward with a rationalised cost base.

[Phileas Fogg]

There is nothing stopping the current owner then buying the airport out of administration

Am I missing something here?

I was understanding that the owner was winding Manston Airport up, not going belly up and calling in receivers to put the company in to administration.

Or have I missed something?

[P6 Driver]

There is a petition to sign if you wish to support the efforts to keep the airfield open;

http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petition...anston-airport

It might not work, but can't do any harm.

[ericlday]

It is not a petition that is required, it is customers using the Airport. How many of those signing will actually use the place !!!!

[davidjohnson6]

How strategically important is Manston, either now or potentially within the next few years ?
How important is having a long and largely unused runway for weather centric issues ? How many diverts of commercial aircraft ?
How important is Manston's capacity for cargo ?
Is there a need for a breaker's yard in SE England or would other UK airports more than suffice ?
Is there a particular need for an airport for commercial airline training near London ?

I don't have full info on these questions and hope answers might give a more informed debate...

[Phileas Fogg]

How strategically important is Manston, either now or potentially within the next few years ?

How strategically placed are Lasham, Kemble and Dunsfold, to name but three, but they're "making it" as commercial entities.

How important is having a long and largely unused runway for weather centric issues ?

Not important whatsoever but if it's there and when the sh1t hits the fan the airlines will make use of it.

How many diverts of commercial aircraft ?

How long is a piece of string?

How important is Manston's capacity for cargo ?

Not a case of importance, it's for the airport to get out there and market itself for freight, maintenance, whatever makes a dollar.

Is there a need for a breaker's yard in SE England or would other UK airports more than suffice ?

Location isn't a governing factor, ask yourself this question, "Is there a need for a breakers yard in Cirencester?" and then take a look at how Kemble, the last place one might expect to find a commercial aerodrome, is making a living for itself.

Is there a particular need for an airport for commercial airline training near London ?

Not necessarily but aircraft transit times from/to their base to/from their place of training all cost money and there are a significant number of aircraft based in the LON area.

P.S. And take a guess where the AN124 filming for the James Bond movie "Die Another Day" took place?

The next question might be "How strategically placed is Manston for filming James Bond movies?"

[jdcg]

Not very, now that Pinewood is setting up in Wales. Suspect Rhoose might benefit

[furmanek]

Closing?

I have some very basic questions so please forgive me if I am asking what everyone already knows?
Do the current owners own the freehold outright to all of the airport site, runway, landing equipment, fire service, terminal buildings etc, or do they have a lease? Do they maybe have the freehold on limited parts of the site?

[LTNman]

Another question is that there are company's based at Manston that need an open Manston to operate, whether that be an aircraft maintenance company or a fuel supplier. I would have thought there would be a period of notice that must be longer than 3 weeks to avoid court action.