KLM to Fly from Manston

[Anmer]

"Dutch airline KLM will connect East Kent with the world from next April, when it launches twice daily flights between Manston and Amsterdam.

Manston is a little-known airport (for Londoners) located in East Kent, close to Canterbury, Margate and Ramsgate.

KLM will operate the route with 80-seater F70 jets and makes no secret of the fact that the flights are timed to connect with international services at its Amsterdam hub."

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/klm-to-fly-manston-amsterdam-from-april-2

[IanH]

Yet another airline trying to make a go of Manston.

EU Jet tried

FlyBe tried

Might just work if people want to avoid going to Heathrow.


(It's near to where the in-laws live - see a few freighters on each visit)

[Anmer]

Manston's not the easiest place to get to, even from London.

[IanH]

Dual carriageway at least most of the way from the M25. But you could hardly have a more isolated place with no population to the North or East.

[Anmer]

Still 90 minutes from M25.  Will have to go some to compete with "London" airports and Southend.

And I guess KLM see it as feeder traffic for long haul out of Schiphol.  I'll give it 3 years at most.   

[G4UMW]

My sister and her family used to live near Margate. Some years ago a young friend of theirs joined the RAF, desperate to get away from the "mind-numbingly boring backwater" that was the Thanet coast. After completing his trade training he received his first posting to (you guessed it!) RAF Manston.

They probably thought that they were doing him a favour!

[Anmer]

Life doesn't always deal a good hand of cards. 

He could have been posted to RAF Valley.

[viking9]

Still 90 minutes from M25.  Will have to go some to compete with "London" airports and Southend.

When did you last drive to Manston, Mike? For the past ten years I've regularly done the trip from the QEII Bridge to Manston in about 50 minutes.

Many people wanting to travel to the continent from the South east will be very happy not to have to spend hours (literally) on the M25 to get to the other London airports.

[Anmer]

I haven't been near the place since I got lost and ended up there by mistake. 

Google is showing a distance of 69 miles from the QEII bridge to Manston and driving time of 1 hour 27 minutes, which sounds about right if one observes the speed limit.

I still give KLM three years max at Manston, no more.

[Chris-G0WTZ]

I think it is for French Jetsetters they get a ferry from Oostende to Ramsgate and a number 4 bus to Manston
I will protest it anyway as I like peaceful weekends in Broadstairs

[viking9]

I haven't been near the place since I got lost and ended up there by mistake. 

Google is showing a distance of 69 miles from the QEII bridge to Manston and driving time of 1 hour 27 minutes, which sounds about right if one observes the speed limit.

I still give KLM three years max at Manston, no more.

Google? My Autoroute makes it 59 miles (54 mins without breaking the speed limit). My Garmin agrees.

[viking9]

If KLM fly it with their 30 min latest check-in time it will be a hit.

[Anmer]

If KLM fly it with their 30 min latest check-in time it will be a hit.

And charge £10 return, even better.   

[Anmer]

I still give KLM three years max at Manston, no more.

Looks like I was being optimistic.  It lasted less than 18 months.

"The Dutch airline KLM, which ran two daily return flights from Manston to Amsterdam, stopped flying from the airport on Wednesday."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-27003462

[IanH]

Not directly KLM's decision to stop using Manson since it is imminently due for closure

Saudi freight services also being concluded.

Stagecoach own the airport (bought for a £1) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-24532999 - so much for MP's belief.

They now want to close it and sell for housing. Who is going to want to live there since few jobs in the region?

I heard all this at end of March during my visit to the outlaws who live in Margate. Local press not happy with Ann Gloag who had this to say when it was bought:

Ann Gloag is quoted saying: "I am delighted to have purchased Manston Airport from Infratil as I believe there is real potential for growth that has not been fully captured.

One option to improve things might have been to run a rail link to the fast London-Ashford line but no one wants to invest.