Deserted UK airport to relaunch flights in just four years – but holidaymakers will have to wait even longer

AN abandoned airport that was forced to close more than a decade ago has revealed plans to restart flights in the next four years.

Manston Airport in Kent has faced a number of protests from locals in recent years after announcing plans to reopen.

However, Tony Freudmann, main board director at RiverOak which owns the airport has said that they could soon relaunch flights.

This was after a judicial review into plans was not upheld.

The flights would initially be just cargo and freight so holidaymakers may have to wait longer.

Mr Freudmann said: "If you're a freighter operator wanting to export goods to a city in India or Indonesia, you can not get it out of the UK.

"You have got to go to Charles de Gaulle or Frankfurt. It's ridiculous."

He also hit back at claims that the airport would be a "highly-polluting cargo hub" saying new technology would allow it to become the "greenest airport in the country".

Another argument against the reopening was the disruption caused by late night flights which Mr Freudman said wouldn't be allowed under the planning development order.

He added that the only exception for this would be for delayed flights due to weather or other conditions.

The redevelopment will take around 18 months and hopes to create as many as 2,500 jobs.

General Manager Gary Blake said: "There are no more legal challenges ahead so we can put the pedal to the metal and go full steam ahead."

If freight services are successful, it's hoped airlines could return to the airport, offering cheap flights to Europe.

Mr Blake says there are plans to attract short haul carriers to popular destinations.

Last month, he said: "If the likes of Ryanair or EasyJet come to us and say we'd like to fly out of your airport and we’re going to base two or three aircraft there, then we can construct a passenger terminal and have them running out of there probably in less than 12 months."

Flights would likely take off early in the morning, he said, but the lack of slots at other major nearby airports would allow more routes for airlines.

He said: "It is in their interests to base two or three aircraft at Manston. That's the working assumption we've made."

Local councillor Karen Constantine told local media the airport could see up to 1.4million passengers by "year 20 of operation".

We can construct a passenger terminal and have [airlines] running out of there probably in less than 12 months

Tony Freudmann

The last time flights operated at Manston Airport was in 2014.

However, the airport first opened in 1916, and was used in both World War I and World War II.

It was forced to close in 2014 after recording losses of up to £10,000 a day in the wake of the RAF leaving the airport back in 1996.

Since then, a new train station - Thanet Parkway - has opened near the airport with high speed trains to and from London.

Another airport in the UK hoping to reopen is Plymouth Airport.

Forced to close 13 years ago, experts have said as many as one million passengers a year could fly from the airport if it was allowed to reopen.

The majority of flights would be across the UK, with as many as 28 feasible routes.

And Doncaster-Sheffield Airport has revealed plans to welcome TUI flights after being forced to close back in 2022.

Since its closure, the airport has been campaigning to reopen, and was given a huge boost earlier this year when current landowners, Peel, agreed on an 125-year lease to Doncaster Council.

Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones : "We have heard from TUI that they are keen to return to our airport."