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Newmarket Holidays withdraws from Manston airport

Newmarket Holidays, which runs charter flights from closure-threatened Manston airport, is switching its Kent departures.


The operator, which offers flights to Verona and Naples in Italy, said it would move its Kent departures from Manston to Lydd airport from June.


The company said the change was being made “in order to avoid any further uncertainty”.


Manston airport announced in March it was in talks about closing amid claims it was losing £10,000 a day.


KLM, which ran two daily return flights from Manston to Amsterdam, withdrew from the airport last week.


Flybe announced it would be pulling out of Manston in November 2011, blaming the size of the airport’s catchment area.


Lydd airport recently received the go-ahead for a £25 million upgrade to its facilities, including plans for a runway extension and new terminal.


Newmarket Holidays regional charter manager Amanda George told the BBC: “We have enjoyed a very happy and successful relationship with Manston International over many years.


“However, we are excited to be beginning a new chapter at Lydd, which will mean Kent passengers can still begin and end their holidays at a local airport, which is what they enjoy doing.”

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