Holy joysticks! With the last KLM flight out of Manston departing this morning, I see the airline has vowed never to return to our septic isle!
In an exclusive interview with Air Transport World, KLM's Cityhopper MD Boet Kreiken said: 'We can’t leave the booking window open if they can’t guarantee operations after April 9. We can’t do business in a shaky environment. That’s not possible, not for the company, or our customers.'
Which will come as a, er, blow to all those Thanetians who were talking about hopping over to Amsterdam to enjoy the city's coffee shops. Actually, thinking about it, none of the ones I came across ever seemed to have the sponds to fund such a trip. Oh well, they'll have to hope that Councillor Motormouth's plan to open a cannabis cafe in Thanet comes to fruitation!
The KLM boss added: 'Now it is game over. We will redeploy the aircraft. We are gone. We
can’t flip-flop in and out all the time. That is not the way we work.'
Cargolux have already relocated to Stansted, and Newmarket Holidays are eyeing up Lydd, so it's really looking like there'll be no happy landings for RAFMMTECNDMTSSPI Airport. Which is a bit of a shame, as I'll have to find somewhere else to park my Lear jet now.
Still, per ardua ad astra, as the fly boys say! Which is why I've popped one of my 7 day polls in the column on the right. What do you think the future of Manston should be? Pip pip!
120 comments:
But KLM only wanted those passengers that were transferring to KLM's more profitable routes, not Thanet day trippers. The Manston link was just a means to an end and was never going to be a money maker for KLM.
Perhaps Ann could sell off bits of the runway so all the politicians who have always wanted an airport to play with could lay it in their own back gardens, take a visit to Hornsby then make all the noise they want.
Another nail as Tour operator Newmarket Holidays says it’s “likely” to move its chartered flights to Lydd Airport, Not that Manston will still be open this summer!
I hope the 12,000 who didn't read the small print, will be as willing to shop at local florists, to leave their floral tributes, carpeting the longest, most useless runway in the universe!
It'd make a good skate park!
Councillor Motormouth - I hope that's not a sleight against people from the North - you poncey southern git.
That would be a toothless northern twat speaking there then.
I just hope and prey that the next emergency landing due to fog and low fuel doesn't have to divert through the roof of Eastcliff Towers.
Passenger flights drained money, Cargo is the way forward, that is why a deal is close to being done that will keep the airport open..
(sorry Tim)
In your dreams. (Sorry Roger)
Well it seems as though the tax payer is going to foot the bill for manston airport keeping ramsgate down. Seems to be 1st on the list for gale and co no matter how much money it loses. When will these MPs understand its not what this area needs why should the tax payer pay for the airport when if the money it receives was spent on a little TLC on doing up the 3 towns for tourism. That would bring so many more jobs and prosperity.
SHAME on all the people that have pushed the olds in power to bring this to Thanet its all lies it will never employ the 1000s that Thanet needs. Now there will be less public money for the things that would make a difference. It has never worked as a private airport while tourism is booming in the uk its so sad.
Who said anything about tax payers money being used?
I feel sorry for the staff losing their jobs but there were no photos of actual passengers in the Gazette's coverage today which might give you a clue as to why it is closing. One supporter claims that "everyone" says the airport is the "jewel in Thanet's crown". Speak for yourself love. Persoanally I agree with the previous commentator and that far from being a jewel it was the millstone that was hanging around the neck of Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margete. Lets wave a small goodbye to the past and say a big hello to the future please.
How to counteract the apathy in the region? That is why corruption goes unchecked.
As for your poll:
Plant the biggest weed farm in Europe and charge a fiver for entry. Then watch the punters descend ravenously on the town! Win Win.
3.38
You wait and see, How can a airport that was losing millions with cargo and passengers just accept cargo and turn around its losses into profit. Without handouts by the government in the form of tax relief and grants what ever you call them its still the tax payer that foots the bill
3.38
You wait and see, How can a airport that was losing millions with cargo and passengers just accept cargo and turn around its losses into profit. Without handouts by the government in the form of tax relief and grants what ever you call them its still the tax payer that foots the bill
Those losses were exaggerated to help with the shut down process. Real figures are far less extreme.. and losses will lessen further without KLM in the loop.
I heard that KLM were given £600,000 by KCC when will it end?
Why not turn old pubs into community hubs instead of demolishing them and building flats?
The Foy Boat I'm looking at you (but not for much longer)
Didn't see Blowing-a-Gale lending his gravitas to the photo-opp this morning. Quelle surprise. Would have loved a final photo from Tracy-Island Airfield - a large angry exploding head as the final Fokker mooned its metallic arse in the direction of Gale, Moores and the other assorted plane-spotting duffers. Chin Chin Thanet!
The final nail: Cargolux has already left apparently. That leaves precisely zero aircraft at Manston (except the dumped ones).
Now the airport is finished what should it be and who should be held to account?
Can anyone else on here smell Garbutt?
Anon 4.11 Hilarious. What 'loop'? Give it up, it's game over at last. Let's have a statue of Ann Gloag on the Tarmac. The airport supporters who funnily enough never set foot on a commercial flight fought a dirty campaign of mis-information, spin and downright lies about the airfield, past, present and future and didn't give a toss about the local residents. We're supposed to shed crocodile-tears for them? I don't think so. Given a chance they'd have wrecked lives and the future of the towns with their night-flights. The future starts here.
Fokker off too to the chimps parking on the promenades and park again. That P601 RYL van for the beach swings is upto his old tricks, and the dustcarts.
No wonder tourists don't visit they're to clamber over the parked vans,skateboarders and BMXers to get to the beach! The cops should clamp them and the council cancel their contracts.
I don't understand why Toni's News plays the radio outside the shop either?!
Is it too soon to start a list of road names for the housing estates that will spring up? ECR, your posting title has given me an idea to name them after aircraft. The million pound houses could be built in Fokker Lane. And then there's Knackered Jumbo Close.
Toxic Three Chase?
Contamination Close?
Thor Mercury Thoroughfare?
I saw Steve Higgins there today, even more drunk than usual!
Where do you get the idea that seaside tourism creates jobs,3:23, well worthwhile ones. I grew up in Thanet when the British seaside holiday was still going in all its pomp, when day trippers flocked from London to Margate and Ramsgate and Dreamland was packed at the weekends.
Strangely enough though. most of my generation had to leave the area to further decent careers because tourism jobs were low paid and seasonal.
Potentially a good regional airport offers jobs that are worthwhile like air traffic, airfield fire fighters, aircraft engineers on top of the check in staff, cargo handlers, security officers and sundry other roles to be filled around an airport. Rather better than deck chair stacking or selling candy floss.
So Thanet was prosperous as seaside towns? And Bournemouth etc still are.
And Manston is bust - and its jobs were seasonal almost daily with staff laid off when there were no flights so good riddance.
Cllr Epps is still clutching at straws because Thanet's problems are councillors like Epps.
We need a clearout of our councillors.
Nonsense, 7:40, merely pointing out that tourism does not necessary create worthwhile jobs though it can benefit hoteliers, restaurant owners, publicans and amusement arcade owners.
Our kids would still need to leave Thanet to find career jobs which only things like airports and Pfizer could provide.
By the way, you do not have to clear me out because I am not standing again, which, with cretins like you around, is hardly surprising.
william
well it seems as though you don't understand about finance so let me tell you the best places in the uk for tourism make 1.5 billion and they were not built to take tourists. Where as here is. It seems unbelievable to me that people in power here don't take advantage of this instead they want to crap all over the beauty of this part of the UK by low flying aircraft and large ferry's that don't take foot passengers people don't want to come to a place to see that. Now its been 15 years trying to make Manston work when are you and your supports going to stop wasting tax payers money and start putting the live back in to Thanet its not like its never been done before in Thanet just give it a chance. Ramsgate has done so much against all the odds
When William Epps grew up in Thanet people were a lot less affluent than they are today. They now have a lot more cash to spend and a lot more leisure time to spend it in.
I think he is confusing day tripping to the coast with countrywide tourism as we know it today.
A park and ride scheme - brilliant! Another winning solution
Two freighters in this afternoon, still open for business.
Mr Gale is out of the country so couldn't be there ..
Sir Roger to you chum.
how many MPs have been given a sir or knighthood who decides who gets one i think its ridiculous that i would have to call him sir
It seems if you have money or your an MP you get one if not your just mr or mrs because there so much better than us normal folk
He was awarded his title because of decades of charity work, just as many other non-MPs and non-wealthy do.
11.00pm
MP's know when to exit, stage-left, as it were. They love being seen to support a cause but when the cause is lost, they head for the hills. Or abroad. Wonder where he flew from?
2 freighters in yesterday afternoon eh?
'Still open for business'
Are they taking Concorde out of mothballs?
How about the Space Shuttle?
WW11 bombers still circling?
The Rolling Stones?
This is what they've meant by potential all along...
At least they don't hide behind anonymity while bitching about others efforts to help the community.
9.10 Anon
That was reasonably funny. Ever thought of getting a pen-friend (Duffer age-friendly means of communication) because then your fetish for a name could even include a postal address, phone number and if you're really lucky, a photo ;-)
Anne Gloag has, in two short months, done more for Thanet than the hoary old silver-heads have in 15 years. I'm off now, got a plane to catch...
9:24, aren't you being a little contradictory? How can the people of Thanet be more affluent today, when according to you the place is blighted by Manston, than they were back when it was a flourishing seaside resort?
Additionally, surely tourism depends on attracting people to the area rather than the locals spending their own money?
Also, please tell me, what are these fantastic jobs in tourism you go on about? Brake man on the big dipper, change cashier in the arcade or cleaner in the amusement park perhaps?
Let's face it, Tim boy, you ain't got a clue and it is all about closing Manston. Nothing else matters to you.
maybe the people of Thanet are not so affluent compared with many other parts of the country but its tourists from elsewhere that are needed in Thanet. Manston could not attract people from elsewhere but Thanet now has to concentrate on tourism. Take a look at Hitec Theme parks, stately homes and other visitor attractions and you will see that they are big businesses and don't just employ part time menial workers. Even local attraction The Turner employs some skilled workers.
Just two further observations -
Firstly, according to the Duffer Flight Corp, aviation is a booming business. If so, Manston staff can take the advice of Tebbit and move to where the work is, namely to one of the many successful airports already successfully serving London and the South-East. Job done.
Secondly, without Manston's noise and pollution, the quality of life in this part of Kent will improve immeasurably, attracting the very people that the Duffers claim to represent the interests of, yet secretly fear as their toy-town power-bases disintegrate under the spotlight of yes, an educated, wealthy,usually DFL set of incomers. Game's up boys, go back to your bungalows and prepare for retirement.
Maybe we can have more oriental restaurants. They really attract skilled highly paid workers.
Oh, too much Timbo, with your intellectual DFLs - surely most of them came here to collect their dole by the seaside. Presumably you include yourself in the intellectual incomers so at least you have a sense of humour.
As for these skilled jobs at the Turner - like what? Even some of the artists, I never said Tracy, are hardly that talented. In any case, don't we all recall you condemning the Turner before it was built and claiming since that the visitors only go there to use the loo!
Thought you had a plane to catch, Tim. What happened or had you forgotten KLM no longer fly from Manston. Don't forget to pack the Ferrero Rocha if you are meeting that Vietnamese Ambassador again.
10:44, surely such restaurants only exist so that hardworking Asian ladies can keep their overweight useless husbands free to write fool comments on blog sites all day.
Go to the Turner web site, they have a couple of vacancies paying £28k, a bit more than the Thanet average wage of £21k or the minimum wage.
Not sure who 'Tim' is but he sure isn't me. Enjoy the comments. Don't waste your time guessing people's identities. It's about the 'Ishoos' after all is said and done.
11:20, if you are not sure who Tim is, you must be the only person in Thanet that does not know. That has you banged to rights for the title yourself.
Nobody has to guess which comments are by Tim for they all bear his hallmark.
Like wow, 11:11, that should solve Thanet's unemployment problems. No prizes for guessing your name for it has to be Wally.
Really, haven't a clue. Who is he?
I Cant see why there's all this animosity its not like public pressure closed Manston. The real truth is either gloag want to build houses or its running at such a loss she needs to close it. Just because its beneficial to Ramsgate it seems as though everybody outside Ramsgate want to stick there ore in and be nasty. Well how would you like to have the constant fear or expansion or night flights or a sudden drop in your house price and put you in negative equity of cause people in Ramsgate want to see the back of Manston. But they also want prosperity for the whole of Thanet as there is always a knock on effect
but I will say one thing I am shocked that a lot of MPs are trying to support Manston it shows they have no foresight.
When in Thanet you have 0 unemployment then start to think about better jobs until then focus on getting the young and old back to work
What a fine intellectual and literate statement from 12:39. Perhaps back to school would be more beneficial than back to work in some cases.
1.58
still living in margate are we, dont be upset and take it out on other people its not their fault
oh 1.58 if I wanted to live where you do i could sell what I have and buy 3 of yours
2:21, what a sad specimen you are and childish with it. Me, Margate, you must be having a laugh. North Foreland, old chap, and nothing in Ramsgate could be sold for enough to buy my garage.
oh sorry 2.21
you sound like old sad git from margate are you sure your not him or are you a different old sad git????????
and wow mate your garage must be expensive what does it have on it BP
oh also 2.21
does money if you live there allow you to be rude to people you dont know ?
W**KER
Calm down people! This debate is about the issues, not personal abuse!
But as we're talking property, I'd much rather have my cliff top mansion in Ramsgate than some sterile, Kardashianised effort in a gated, CCTVed ghetto any day. Keeping it real, blud!
What's happening with pleasurama?
Gale and Gloag to meet: hilarious. Two old farts with a £1 junkyard airport with no planes. The scraping of the bottom of the barrel by Gale.
Lovely fresh air and nice and quiet without Manston. Should have closed years ago and saved a load of tax too!
8.45 I agree
Can somebody explain to me how it is taxpayers' money that is supporting Manston to the tune of £10,000 a day? Surely it is Gloag who is losing this money from her own pocket, which is why she has had enough and is cutting her losses.
What fresh hell is THIS:
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent-business/county-news/manston-airport-consultation-extended-15677/
The hell is the dodgy back room deals between the North Thanet Clown and the robbing of taxpayers money via the BIS. I suspect that the 14,000 Manston Supporters will be less inclined to support the saving of Manston when the costs to KCC, TDC and the general tax payer are revealed?
Perhaps the rest of us should take a class action against the 14,000 to recover the tax losses?
So sad the tax payer again
What a waist of good money that could be spent on encouraging tourism.
That's what will happen in the end why wait leave her to build what she likes and get on with promoting Thanet.
I run my own company and moved both business and home from London to Ramsgate last year. I lived in London for 20 years where I witnessed first hand large areas of the city become regenerated overnight.
I have a track record of moving to an area about three years ahead of it gripping the mainstream and once that happens, the changes for the positive are impossible to hold back. When I moved here the airport was for sale, doing little business and appeared to be on its last legs so I took a chance on a Ramsgate and the future failure of the airport.
Sooner than expected the airport failed and now I'm astonished at how the council are fighting to keep it. Right now Ramsgate has a chance to a successful future but only without the airport.
I still confidently say it will not close ;-)
Hoping that 'never say never' stays relevant to get KLM back by year end too..
Anon at 07:15. Thank goodness you have arrived. We can now all sleep safely in our beds with the knowledge that Thanet will be regenerated overnight in about two/three years time, if your track record is to be believed. Since you have arrived Manston is threatened with closure, but since you consider this essential to your three year strategy then all is going according to plan. On the other side of the coin, if Manston is a thriving airport in two/three years time then you can also claim success. To me Manston is an asset which should be nurtured since with the right investment and good will it can become the heart of growth in Thanet. If banks can be bailed out with taxpayers' money then WHY NOT MANSTON.
If the world was made of only short sighted politicians, middle aged weekend flyboys and people who like signing petitions then Manston/Ramsgate would already have success. It's time to let other people with new ideas look to bring fresh opportunity to the area and that wont happen as long as the airport exists.
The collapse of the banks would have affected rather more than the 150 mostly part time Manston workers and the few hundred passengers that will now have to go elsewhere.
If the government wont save the jobs of 1300 mining workers no way are they going to step in at Manston.
You are probably right, 9.26, but Governments are sometimes guided more by local political considerations - the political colour of the local MP and Councils, and how marginal local constituencies might be. It's a bit like the Thanet North MP taking one position on night flight restrictions when they were proposed by a Labour TDC and a dfferent position when they were proposed by a Tory TDC. Political expediency over principles.
One has to wonder, if Manston is doomed as some claim, why they are so worried by the efforts to save it. The seeds of doubt clearly still exist and now we have an invented DFL who came here specifically for the success story Ramsgate will become once the airport closes.
Clearly someone down South Eastern Road thinks we are all as stupid as he is.
Yep
London is comming chaps. The question is,will it be greedy landloads buying to let and then syphon the money back to the smog. Or rich Types comming down to relocate.. But one way or the other,this place has been noticed. ( not annon)
Do people that support Manston think Manston had company's running it that dont know what their doing?
and if another company started it would be better?
I think now Manston only chance is if the tax payer steps in. I cant see why people are afraid of change.
7.15 is right
Roll on the closure bring on the developers lets make it better
My only worry is that gale will tell his mates in Westminster that we need it "WE DONT"
Anybody that says DFLs makes them look so silly and very old fashioned I remember going to a small village 30 years ago in Somerset and they were the same about the next village. To all of you that think like that the world has got a lot smaller since 1800s and outside of Thanet people have stopped using horses to get around
Remember folks, KCC, TDC and the MP's there is no such thing as the Airport (poo) Fairy.
http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Ukip-announces-plan-rescue-Manston-Airport/story-20949185-detail/story.html
2:52, who exactly is the poo fairy. Does she remove ones droppings and leave a silver sixpence in their place?
Not that I would vote ukip anyway but they are just as sad as gale and his lot
We have the weather beaches hotels and without the airport clean air and peace and all the rest that makes Thanet just the place for tourism. Why dont people understand we dont need a airport
Ramsgate with its marina and ferry terminal should be adapted to take cruise liners. The Turner Contemporary and The Royal St. George's golf club at Sandwich should be heavily publicised around the world, and Canterbury included in the name of the airport. New world class hotels built at Westgate and Margate, and Manston enlarged to accommodate all the aircraft bringing people to these major tourist attractions.
Ramsgate too small and shallow to take the cruisers you need in.
The Manston consultation has only been extended a week or two.
And it's still 10 days redundancy notice and the consultation would only apply to Unite members: 40 out of 150 staff supposedly.
Manston is 10 days away from complete closure. I would suspect the next week is the announcement and completely closed before end of April.
And Manston has no flights now except a few random ones.
No more taxpayer funds will be provided for such a dead duck.
We need an inquiry into the waste and even now buffoons like Gale and Bayford and Hart telling us Manston is viable.
It's finished and so are they and Gale - and good riddance: fresh air and peace and quiet and realistic development.
Both Manston and UKIP are really just for old-fashioned pensioners remembering the good old days.
What has Latchford done after a year at KCC with a huge majority?
If Gloag is considering making 100 or more people redundant, the minimum consultation period is 45 days, whether the staff is unionised or not, before the first dismissal letters can be given out. So, it looks as if the consultation has been "extended" to fit the statutory minimum period.
Agree 10:09, the usual blather from Buchanan, and the Gazette says the 45 day period will be discussed next week as to whether that is extended.
I would assume not and redundancy made with 10 days notice from next week ie the airport closed before end of April as originally stated by Gloag. She will run rings round Gale just as Pfizer did.
Have The Duffers done anything with clearing Pleasurama?
Long may Latchford continue to do nothing!
Not quite closed, 747-400 at 0720. A rude awakening followed by a reverse thruster rumble all head very clearly from central ramsgate
The biggest blight on Thanet in general and Ramsgate in particular is neither Manston or TDC but Garbutt and his endless garbage. Whilst we locals may know it is all rubbish, outsiders looking in may be influenced by this idiot. Should he not be taken into care for the good of the community?
I have been watching Baroness Ashton's Brussels valedictory. Sne appeared to be proposing the formation of an EU Air Force. If this should come about then an excellent base is Manston.
Manston is close to the continent, has a suitable runway. Noise would not be that that much of a problem. The necessary low level night flying training would take place mainly over the sea. Sonic booms would be inevitable, but one soon grows accustomed to these. I for one would not object to the storing of battlefield nuclear weapons at Manston. Yes, Manston would be a good choice.
Anon 8:43,
I agree. Tim needs to be cared for. But I imagine this would be a dificult task for just on person.
8:56, one poor soul seems to be coping as well as running a restaurant at present.
Anon 8:58,
Yes that's what I implied. It cannot be easy for her. I suppose that while he venting his spleen on the PC he is keeping out of her hair. I take my hat off to her.
I have genuine sympathy for Tim, it could happen to any of us. Does he have other family or close friends who might help I wonder. I suppose we are in a way helping him by responding to his comments.
Interesting stuff, 9:05, and whilst I share your sympathy to some extent, should his condition excuse the damage his campaigning does to our local community or the insults he dishes out to named individuals.
There's no cash in tourism?
Try telling that to the Eden Project - 11 million visitors since opening.
8.53 another Manston supporter are you and they say you lot haven't a clue well you have showed them
Anon at 9:41. The Eden project opened in March 2001 and has therefore been open for thirteen years which makes it about less than a million visitors a year. The Turner Contemporary is not far behind in this respect so where is the benefit to the community in terns of large scale employment?
There's a big difference between The Eden project and The Turner.
The Eden project charges over £20 per adult whereas the Turner is a drain on the tax payer to the tune of over £2 millions a year and many of the 400,000 a year visitors to the Turner only go in to use the toilets.
All of these discussions about what to use it for when it's obvious really. An airport!
Conveniently placed in one of the most deprived areas in the country, but handily only 90 minutes drive away from megalopolis London and all it's rich inhabitants. That drive compares favourably against Londons other airports such as heathrow (30 mins) gatwick , stansted Southend (60 mins) and city (15 mins).
I think that Ryanair and Easyjet just need to be told about manston and it's bound to take off! Surely they must have never heard of it over the past ten years otherwise they'd be flying from there right?
Easyjet and Ryanair etc wouldn't make a lot of money for the airport unless there were many. The way the airport would make money is from the car parking and the percentage of money made in the shops and outlets in the airport. The money just from a few flights alone is nothing. They would however be good for passengers.
Quite simply Manston hasn't got the infrastructure to be a regional hub. No public transport synced to KLM landings/departures from Ms Gloag's Stagecoach business. A high speed road connection via Crispe Road & Acol for non-Fanitarians? Finally if you wanted a taxi to Ramsgate Stn [nearest Rail connection] a gent behind a desk in Manston reception would ring for a taxi on his mobile. Fanit business at it's peak of inability! In fact the desolate place with a few lumps of iron chucked in, would make good setting for a remake of Planet of the Apes!
It was better as a US Airforce base. Noisy, Plenty of spenders, and rumour had it that there was dramatic decrease in the Manston cat population. A possible Badger cull inline with HMG's objectives comes to mind! Add in a GI going berserk and getting shot on Ramsgate beach causing a stir of excitement in the turgid town. No complaints either. Wot more could one want?
Lovely fresh air and peace and quiet and sunshine in Ramsgate without Manston!
Some numpty car/speedboater stiuck in the sand. Who's the P601 RYL van parked then driving on the promenade on a sunny Sunday? Hardly encouraging what little tourism there is! £5 to tip it onto its roof - that'll show him?!
We need a clearout of these numpty pensioners. Too many and too old.
Why have Clive and Gale and co not resigned yet for the Manston farce?
Ramsgate without both Manston and the MOD Fire station pollution would be even better!
And Ramsgate with out Garbutt would be better still!
You're confusing Garbutt with the pensioners polluting the public 6:36
Did the EKO FOI documents and costs ever appear?
As Garbutt is fatter than most and certainly sillier than all pensioners, that would be a difficult confusion to make, Tim.
Anon 8.53, you're having a laugh aren't you? Sonic booms! Nuclear weapons! You'll have us begging Mrs Gloag for a garden city at this rate!
(PS, A mere 24 years after I moved to Forest Gate, Stratford got the Olympics! But do I boast about it?)
Marva Rees,
I don't know, do you boast about it?
I do notice that that you fail to spot irony and suggest that you should not boast about that, but you do.
See 10:06 is as confused as ever. Think it is you failing to spot irony, but then you have a bit of rust around the old brain cells.
That's enough of that kind of language! - Ed.
Post a Comment