Manston Airport, near Margate in Kent, which has been closed for more than a decade, is poised to reopen as part of a major redevelopment costing between £500 million and £750 million. The site, closed in 2014 after years of financial losses, has been purchased by investment firm RiverOak Strategic Partners (RSP) for £16.5 million in 2019. The first phase of the project focuses on transforming the airport into a dedicated air freight hub serving London and the South East, with a target reopening date of 2029.
Redevelopment Plans and Capacity
The redevelopment will effectively rebuild much of the airport after more than 10 years out of operation. According to RSP, when fully developed, Manston is expected to handle more than one million tonnes of freight each year. The approved plans include 19 parking stands for widebody cargo aircraft, four narrowbody passenger aircraft stands, a 65,000 square metre cargo terminal, eight business aviation hangars, and three recycling hangars.
Government Approval and Public Consultation
The UK Government approved a Development Consent Order for the project in 2022, allowing work to move forward. Between March and June 2026, RSP held a public consultation on proposed flight paths and airspace changes, giving residents and businesses the chance to comment on the plans. Before the airport can reopen, new flight procedures must still complete the Civil Aviation Authority's approval process.
Economic and Employment Impact
RSP says reopening the airport would not only strengthen the UK's freight network but also create thousands of jobs across Kent. The company forecasts around 2,150 jobs on the airport site by the fifth year of operation, alongside more than 13,000 indirect jobs, while also working with local education providers to help train future employees.
Historical Background
The airport has a long history stretching back more than a century. It first opened in 1916 during the First World War as an Admiralty Aerodrome after nearby cliff-top emergency landing sites proved too dangerous. During the Second World War, it became one of Britain's most important frontline airfields because of its position on the Kent coast. It was fitted with a unique three-lane runway that allowed heavily damaged bombers returning from mainland Europe to land safely. The airport later became known as a "graveyard" for aircraft that could no longer fly, with many providing valuable spare parts. After the war, the site was used by the United States Air Force before becoming a mixed military and civilian airport, later operating as Kent International Airport. RAF operations ended in 1999, leaving the airport in commercial use until it eventually closed in May 2014.
Future Passenger Services Possible
Although the immediate focus is on freight operations, there have previously been reports that RSP has held discussions with budget airlines, including Ryanair and easyJet, about the possibility of introducing short-haul passenger services in the future. Since its closure, the former airport has been used as an emergency lorry park during Channel Tunnel disruption and even appeared in Sam Mendes' 2022 film Empire of Light.
