19 March 2014
Manston Airport is holding a consultation over its possible closure.
According to reports, up to 150 jobs have been placed under threat following the announcement that the regional airport could close.
The staff at Manston Airport have been given details about the 45-day consultation.
An airport spokesman said, “Following a meeting with staff at Manston airport in Kent today, Wednesday March 19, we can confirm we have commenced a process of consultation over the possible orderly closure of the airport.
“No further comment will be made until the consultation period with staff has been concluded.”
A spokesman for Lydd Airport at Romney Marsh, Kent expressed surprise at the Manston Airport announcement.
“It is incredibly sad to hear of any airport in trouble, especially one in Kent. Of course the business model at Manston is very different to our own at Lydd and we remain very confident that our investment plans here will create a successful, modern regional airport capable of providing high quality air travel services to a wide catchment area in Kent, East Sussex and beyond,” he said.
Lydd Airport has been granted planning permission for a runway extension and a new terminal building, part of a redevelopment project costing more than £25m. Construction work on the runway is expected to start later in the year.
A statement from Manston explained the airport will continue to operate as normal during the period of consultation.
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