This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-27294532
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Kent's Manston Airport to close on 15 May | Kent's Manston Airport to close on 15 May |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Manston Airport is to close with the loss of up to 150 jobs after a buyer was not found, its owners have said. | |
The loss-making Kent airport will close next week after a US firm's offer to buy the site was rejected on Monday and another bid fell through in April. | |
An airport spokesman said there had not been "a viable alternative" to allow the airport to remain open. | |
But Kent MP Sir Roger Gale said the airport should have negotiated over the offers. | |
Campaigners have vowed to continue fighting to keep Manston open. | |
Flights withdrawn | Flights withdrawn |
In a statement, the airport spokesman said it had also considered business proposals put forward by staff but those would have still required losses to be subsidised. | |
"In the absence of other options, the decision has been taken to close the airport on 15 May," it said. | |
"Individual consultation will now take place with all staff members who will be supported through this process." | |
Staff were told of the decision to close the airport at a meeting on Tuesday morning. | Staff were told of the decision to close the airport at a meeting on Tuesday morning. |
The site was bought by Ann Gloag, who co-founded the Stagecoach Group, for £1 last year. | The site was bought by Ann Gloag, who co-founded the Stagecoach Group, for £1 last year. |
In March, the airport said it was in talks about closing because it was losing £10,000 a day. | In March, the airport said it was in talks about closing because it was losing £10,000 a day. |
Several airlines have pulled out, including KLM, which ran two daily flights to Amsterdam. | |
In a joint statement, local Conservative MPs Sir Roger Gale and Laura Sandys, said there was "ongoing and serious interest" in the acquisition of Manston as a working airport and they hoped the current owners could be persuaded to reconsider. | |
"We are convinced that, given more time, real progress could have been made and it is thus hugely disappointing that the decision has been taken to close it." | |
US firm RiverOak Investment, which is based in Stamford, Connecticut, said it had made an offer to acquire 100% of the shares in the company that owned Manston Airport. | |
'Not the end' | |
It said it had $350m (£206m) in assets and a successful track record of turning around "troubled operating and real estate assets". | |
The company said it had developed a long-term plan to own and manage Manston as an airport. | |
In a statement, it said: "RiverOak is distressed to learn of the announced closure of Manston today and remains willing to engage with all parties to achieve a solution which allows the airport to continue operating and preserves the jobs of its staff." | |
Wendy Fraser, group secretary of Save Manston Airport, said campaigners would be stepping up their campaign to keep the airport open | |
"We'll fight to reopen it if it does close, and we will not let this be made into anything but an airport," she said. | |
Founder of the campaign group Dan Light added: "I believe that something can be done. I mean, it's not the end yet. It may look like it is, but we're going to fight to the bitter end." |