Flybe to scrap its flights from Manston International Airport
FLYBE will end its flights at Manston airport on March 25, the Isle of Thanet Gazette can reveal.
Passengers who have already booked a flight on the summer schedule will either be fully refunded or booked onto a flight departing from another airport.
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Flybe will end flights at Manston
In a statement, Simon Lilley, Flybe's director of marketing said: "It is with regret that Flybe can confirm it will cease its operations from Manston International Airport with effect from the end of the winter season on March 25, 2012.
"Flybe carefully reviews the viability of all our 200-plus routes on a regular basis looking not only at passenger numbers but also at external cost pressures. This is done not only to monitor where we can offer increased regularity on a given route but also where passenger numbers make a flight uneconomic.
"Our ongoing commitment to Manston has been reliant on the success of the Edinburgh service that we launched in May 2010. Despite extensive marketing of this route both in Scotland and throughout SE England, the challenging economic environment with which we are all faced has meant passenger numbers remain at unsustainable levels, and are insufficient to financially justify its continued operation."All passengers who have booked flights online for next summer will be contacted by Flybe and offered a full refund or re-accommodated on alternate flights; and in the interim we look forward to welcoming on board those passengers who continue to book and use our Edinburgh service from now through to the end of March."
The decision comes after Flybe axed flights from Manston to Manchester due to lack of passenger demand. Airport bosses have urged Thanet council to support Manston's plans for night flights, on the grounds that it needs greater flexibility to compete with other airports.
Charles Buchanan, Chief Executive of Manston Airport, said: "While obviously disappointed, we understand that the decision has been taken as part of Flybe's ongoing review of its 200 routes.
"Launched in May 2010, the service initially performed well. However, like many other internal UK routes it suffered from the economic downturn. Inbound and outbound passenger numbers, although initially good have unfortunately tailed off as household budgets and discretionary spend has tightened.
"The decision by Flybe reinforces the need for the airport's proposals for limited and managed scheduled night-time flights to be agreed with Thanet District Council in order to compete with other national and regional airports. Without the ability to compete it will be very difficult to secure a commitment from other airlines to base aircraft at Manston and deliver a truly sustainable regional airport which will underpin the future health of the East Kent economy."
Commenting on the decision, Sandra Matthews-Marsh, Chief Executive at Visit Kent, said: "This is disappointing news for East Kent in a very challenging economic climate for the travel and tourism industry."
Flybe also runs a service between Manston and Belfast – which will also end, said a company spokesman.
8 Comments
by ohjoy12
Thursday, December 29 2011, 7:06PM
“lets face it thanets is a dump and all always will be airport turner centre waste of time you can not polsh a ****”
by Norsewind
Saturday, December 24 2011, 8:29AM
“datahoover... you said .... "plus issues with having the water table directly beneath the runway."
What does directly beneath mean then ?
And i take it you dont live in Margate, or you live in a nice safe little bubble that you cannot see what is going on around you ... i live in Margate, i live and see it everyday, and no matter which way you look at it you cant hide what goes on here and who causes most problems.”
by datahoover
Friday, December 23 2011, 11:53PM
“Oh, dear, Norsewind:
"where did you get the idea that the water table lies just below the runway"
I didn't say how far below the surface the water reservoir is. And it's not simply my opinion.
"minus the nice eastern Europeans that have infested over half of the town"
Infested? That's a lovely way to refer to people. You've just disqualified yourself from being taken seriously, assuming you ever were.”
by Norsewind
Friday, December 23 2011, 10:39PM
“datahoover... interesting, where did you get the idea that the water table lies just below the runway ?? have you dug underneath the runway to find out ? .. i think you have been misinformed about a hill 200 ft above sea level that has a water table just under the surface of the top of the hill ... perhaps the caravan park sitting 30ft below the monkton roundabout should be full of water ..oh well ...
Yes i do know the area around Gatwick, i lived near there for a few years and its buzzing 24 hours a day ... Crawley is growing and thriving, but Manston will never equal Gatwick, and another thing, people that live around Gatwick on the flight paths dont suffer health problems.. its like people living near a railway track, they get used to the noise, but again it is pointless as it will never happen at Manston.. and as for tourism, all you will get is day trippers mainly and as for Manston becoming a grimy transport hub .. is Margate not a grimy place .. i should know i live here, only way for Margate to become good is to destroy the place and rebuild minus the nice eastern Europeans that have infested over half of the town.. Ramsgate is nearly just as bad, they both reek of decay.”
by datahoover
Friday, December 23 2011, 6:31PM
“Norsewind, the airport will not create jobs. A report commissioned by the airport itself is promising jobs, but no one who knows the industry believes a word of it. The promise of jobs is inflated and unproven. No other airport in the UK has been able to create anywhere near the number of jobs being promised at the operating levels Infratil suggest.
As to the health issues, night flights will disturb sleep, which is proven to be a health issue, and destroy people's quality of life. Add to that the air pollution from a "major" airport neighbouring Ramsgate, plus issues with having the water table directly beneath the runway.
The best hope of jobs in Thanet lies in tourism. In other words, people spending time and money in Thanet. Airport expansion will simply relegate the area to that of a grimy transport hub. When was the last time you spent a day in the surrounding areas of Heathrow or Gatwick airports?
Jobs are urgently needed in Thanet, airport expansion isn't the answer. It's a "silver bullet" idea to cure all ills from a council that has run out of ideas.”
by Norsewind
Friday, December 23 2011, 5:11PM
“datahoover.. are you talking about the health of the people that will loose their jobs, cause i bet they are sick as parrots at having to join the endless queue at Margate job centre ... but i would love to know what other health issues Manston causes ?”
by datahoover
Friday, December 23 2011, 2:51PM
“Charles Buchanan: "The decision by Flybe reinforces the need for the airport's proposals for limited and managed scheduled night-time flights"
Utter rubbish. FlyBe were not in the least bit concerned by a lack of night flights. They have stated very clearly that Manston's catchment area is far too small for the airport to be a success. It's time to wake up. Stop pushing a failed airport at the expense of local people's health and instead promote Thanet as a tourist DESTINATION, not a point of departure to other desirable places.”
by unkledud
Thursday, December 22 2011, 8:38PM
“very disappointed by fly be ceasing flights to manston in march next year,my wife and i have had many enjobable holidays in thanet,margate westgate etc,travelling by train bus or plane to stanstead,manston was a chance to get there by plane from edinburgh,though we stay in glasgow,it was still far better than going by bus or train,nobody want to to thanet now?your tourist people must be dissapointed as well,whats going on down there,too many people fed up with being ripped off or what?time to get your act together thanet!cherish your visitors/holiday makers or go further downhill.”