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Representation by Jill Iggulden stevens

Date submitted
13 September 2018
Submitted by
Members of the public/businesses

Reasons why Kent International Airport (AKA Manston Airport') should be reopened.

  1. On a purely practical level, it would take the pressure off Heathrow and ease the growing congestion in handling cargo. It has one of the longest and widest runways in Europe. Its width enables the rapid turn-around of large cargo planes. It also has extremely deep foundations, which protect the surface from being damaged by heavy loads. I understand that it could even include facilities for a Skyport.
  2. Once reopened, it would be able to handle emergency landings and save having to 'close down' runaways at Heathrow and Gatwick which in the recent past has caused major disruptions to air traffic.
  3. It would spare those passengers wishing to travel to and from the South East, the time-consuming ordeal of having to make the onerous journey along motorways, such as the M25 and M3, hours before their flight, to ensure they are able to board their plane in time, despite the long queues at the departure points.
  4. The sale of the airport in 2014, was approved by the authorities on the understanding that the buyer intended to develop the airport and make it profitable. However it appears that the buyer was actually more interested in acquiring the land in order to build houses. Within two to three months, the owner closed the airport despite the fact that KLM had already successfully started two flights a day to connect passengers to Europe and the rest of the world, via Amsterdam.
  5. A Development Consent Order is the necessary route to take in order to save the airport from being covered in houses, save the area from overcrowding and unemployment and grow the local economy.
  6. On an ethical point, Manston Airport has a long proud history in defence, air-sea rescue, emergency landings and - of course - airshows and training.
  7. We understand that airlines such as KLM would return, once the airport has been secured for the future.
  8. It is to the advantage of small passenger airlines to come in on the act for budget flights within the UK and to-and from Europe.
  9. Opportunities for training young pilots; providing experience for commercial pilots to train on new designs such as was the successful programme with the airbus.
  10. Engineering: practical training for technicians within the aircraft industry, and for the training of aeronautical engineers aligned to local colleges and universities.