Report by
John Lavabre
LONDON
Manston airport in Kent could soon become the base for a low cost airline.
The
airport owners, Wiggins Group Plc, has revealed it is in talks with a budget
operator, but is keeping their identity under wraps.
A spokesman
for the airport said: “Negotiations are underway and there are high hopes an
operator will move to Manston, hopefully some time this year.”
Planning
permission was recently granted to improve the airport’s facilities and
therefore increase its capacity.
The
spokesman confirmed reports that Ryanair and EasyJet are not involved, but
could not say whether Virgin Express, which has used Manston as a training
centre for pilots, was in talks.
A
spokesman for Virgin Express said he was unaware of the airline being in
negotiations with Manston.