Plans to reopen Manston Airport gather momentum as freight hub vision advances

Plans to reopen Manston Airport in Kent – closed since 2014 – are progressing, with airport owners and supporters pointing to a potential revival as an air freight hub that could also support future passenger services.

image: Save Manston Airport Association

After more than a decade of setbacks and legal challenges, the project remains under development, although crucial planning, funding and infrastructure work lies ahead.

The site has been owned since 2019 by RiverOak Strategic Partners (RSP), which aims to transform the former airfield into a facility that would serve the UK’s growing demand for air freight capacity, with projections that the airport could reopen for cargo operations around 2029 after construction and certification activities are complete.

The redevelopment vision includes resurfacing the runway, rebuilding degraded structures and preparing the site for modern logistics operations.

While freight is the immediate focus, successful reopening could pave the way for renewed passenger services in the future. There is reported interest from carriers – ranging from legacy European airlines to low‑cost operators – although no commercial service agreements have been officially confirmed.

Supporters argue that reviving Manston would provide strategic benefits for UK transport networks, particularly in addressing freight capacity constraints in the south‑east of England. Located close to major road links and the Channel ports, the airport could serve as a complementary facility to congested London area airports and improve connectivity for import‑export traffic.

Local campaign groups, including the Save Manston Airport Association, highlight potential economic and employment benefits arising from reopening the site, which they argue could bring significant private investment and create jobs in the surrounding area.

However, RSP has acknowledged rising construction costs and the complexity of planning work, which have pushed back earlier target timelines and necessitated additional funding discussions with prospective investors. Public consultation on airspace changes – a key prerequisite for certification by the Civil Aviation Authority – is underway and expected to gather community feedback ahead of final design submissions.