KLM cityhopper (WA, Amsterdam Schiphol) has suspended its flights from Amsterdam Schiphol to London Manston Airport with effect from April 10. In a statement, the Dutch carrier blamed the move on the "continuous uncertainty surrounding the airport's future."
As the airport's only scheduled passenger operator, the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL, Amsterdam Schiphol) subsidiary was also joined by travel firm, Newmarket Holidays, which said it would be moving its summer charters from Manston to Naples Capodichino and Verona, to Lydd.
The consultation period over Manston's future has been extended until May in the hope that employee unions and airport management, lead by Ann Gloag, can come to some arrangement that will allow the loss-making facility to remain operational.
“Unite would like Manston to continue as a viable airport, as we believe it is vital to the local economy in terms of employment and economic growth in Kent. We will do our utmost to achieve that goal,” the Unite trade union's regional officer, Ian McCoulough, said.
McCoulough noted that the airport was still considering two business plans put forward by staff that could secure the airport’s future. Airport chief executive Charles Buchanan recently disclosed that the airport was racking up daily losses of over GBP10'000 (USD14'500).
A follow-up meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 24.
