This week we’re looking at a story we released on November 15, 2012 about KLM adding Manston Airport, Kent to its UK network. Here’s the original story: KLM Adds Manston to Extensive UK Network.
Two years ago, KLM announced their plans to launch a new twice daily link between Amsterdam Schipol and Manston Airport. The link would launch on April 2, 2013 and offer early and mid-morning departures from the UK airport and morning and late evening rotations from Amsterdam using a single Fokker 70 aircraft.
The route would be the first scheduled flight from Manston Airport in over a year after flybe suspended its route from the airport to Edinburgh in March 2012.
Fast forward two years and things aren’t quite as we would have expected. Manston airport has since closed its doors entirely, and the land has been sold to regeneration specialists.
The airport was closed in May 2014 after being bought in 2013 for £1 by Ann Gloag, who cofounded the Stagecoach Group.
In an interview, Ann Gloag said: “We fully intended to work for two years to try and turn around the airport but when the extent of the problems became clear, and no new customers were forthcoming, the stark reality of the continuing losses meant we had to make the difficult decision to close.”
The closure has received a great amount of backlash from residents in Kent and the surrounding area, particularly since the announcement of the selling of the land, including the auctioning of all of the airport’s equipment.
The regeneration specialists have planned a £1billion redevelopment for manufacturing, housing and schools, with the plan to create more than 4,000 jobs.
"We will continue discussions with Thanet District Council and Kent County Council as we consider the future for Manston with the view to developing an agreed strategy that provides the best growth opportunity for East Kent," added Gloag.
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