"Back in the day, Manston Airport near Margate used to fly Brits to their holidays in Europe, with destinations including Italy, Portugal and Amsterdam. The airport closed its doors in 2014, but in 2025 it announced it was going to make a comeback. Now there's been an update, as owners said the airport could reopen in 2029. Originally built in 1916 as an RAF base, Manston also operated as a commercial terminal until shutting down more than a decade ago."
"Originally tipped to open in 2028, the return of Manston Airport has been pushed back by a year due to the 'complexity of planning work, changes to the cost of the works and turbulence within the financial markets', Tony Freudman from airport owners RiverOak Strategic Partners (RSP) said. Freudman told Kent Online that Manston could reopen as a cargo airport in 2029, but it could still be a few years until passenger flights return to the terminal."
"The £750 million project is reportedly in its final stages, with the airport in final discussions with a European funding partner. No airlines have expressed an interest in operating from Manston yet, but Freudman said that airlines like Jet2 and TUI prefer 'regional airports like this one'. RSP hopes that a consultation on proposed airspace will begin in March 2026."
Manston Airport near Margate was built in 1916 as an RAF base and operated commercially until its 2014 closure. The owners announced plans to revive the airport in 2025, and a £750 million refurbishment is reportedly in its final stages. Reopening has been delayed from 2028 to 2029 due to planning complexity, rising costs and financial-market turbulence. Owners expect the airport to resume operations first as a cargo hub in 2029, with passenger services returning later. No airlines have yet committed, though carriers like Jet2 and TUI favour regional airports. A proposed airspace consultation is targeted for March 2026.
Read at Time Out London
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