16 March 2026
Twelve years after its closure, Manston Airport in Kent has taken another step toward reopening, with the launch of a public consultation on how aircraft will operate in the skies above East Kent.
The consultation focuses only on airspace design and flight procedures, not on the decision to redevelop the airport.
Manston has long been considered a valuable aviation asset thanks to one key feature: one of the longest and widest runways in the United Kingdom. Originally built as an RAF station, the airport later operated civilian flights before closing to commercial traffic in 2014.
Plans to bring the airport back into use have been developing for several years. The site is now owned by RiverOak Strategic Partners (RSP), which intends to redevelop Manston as an international air freight hub, while also supporting passenger services, business aviation and aircraft engineering.
The project received a major boost in August 2022 when the UK Government granted a Development Consent Order allowing redevelopment of the airport. However, before operations can begin, new flight procedures and airspace arrangements must be approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
That process is now entering an important stage.
The current consultation forms part of the CAA’s Airspace Change Proposal process, which governs how aircraft routes are designed around airports. At this stage, residents, aviation stakeholders and environmental groups are being invited to review proposed arrival and departure routes and submit feedback.
The consultation will run from Monday 16 March until Monday 22 June 2026 and will include a series of in-person and online events during April.
Under the plans, aircraft using Manston would follow modern satellite-based (GPS) navigation routes. These allow aircraft to fly precise tracks, improving efficiency while potentially reducing fuel burn and emissions. Continuous descent approaches are also proposed, allowing aircraft to descend more smoothly toward the runway and helping reduce noise levels.
Tony Freudmann, a director at RiverOak Strategic Partners, described the project as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” to add runway capacity for freight operations and support economic growth in East Kent.
The consultation is open until June 2026, after which the feedback will be used to refine the final airspace design before submission to the CAA for approval. Manston Airport could reopen later this decade, potentially around 2029.
The Government-approved Development Consent Order provides consent for:
