Manston Airport in Kent, which closed in 2014, is hopeful that passenger flights, including from airlines like Ryanair and easyJet, could one day resume, with plans for an £800m redevelopment.
The airport, previously used as a lorry park, is set to undergo significant infrastructure changes, including new terminals, updated runways, and cargo-handling facilities, with initial building work expected to take two years to complete.
While the airport is expected to reopen as a cargo hub in 2027 at the earliest, the timeline for resuming passenger flights remains unclear, with no firm date set despite anticipated passenger numbers and opposition from local residents.
Manston had direct services form Dublin in 2004 and Irish based airline EUjet served 13 European destinations from Manston in 2005.
The airport’s revival plans have faced fierce opposition, with an outstanding Court of Appeal judgment pending, although if the appeal is dismissed, work on the airport redevelopment will proceed, potentially transforming the site used for filming, including scenes for James Bond movie Die Another Day and Hollywood blockbuster Empire of Light, starring Olivia Colman.
