Manston Airport,situated near Margate in Kent, could welcome its first flights in 2029.

The launch date has been delayed by a further year owing to the "complexity of planning work, changes to the cost of the works and turbulence within the financial markets."

The scheme is understood to be in its concluding phase, with final discussions underway with a preferred, European-based funding partner. The current estimated cost stands at £750million.

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Tony Freudmann from airport owners RSP stated: "RiverOak Strategic Partners expects Manston Airport to be operational in 2029, with consultation on proposed airspace to get underway in March 2026.

"Following four years of delays caused by the two judicial reviews, the further change to the timetable has been caused by the complexity of the planning work currently being undertaken, as well as changes to the cost of the works to reopen Manston, and turbulence within the financial markets - which has necessitated a longer period of time to identify and undertake due diligence with the right prospective funding partner. Those discussions are now in an advanced stage.

"Manston represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver new runway capacity to support the UK air cargo market and to transform the economic landscape in East Kent.

"RSP remains keen to get Manston open as soon as possible. However, we are realistic about the complexity of delivering a major infrastructure project. There are no shortcuts to reopening the airport, in a sustainable way, for the long term and delays can unfortunately become a part of the process of getting it right.

"We continue to work hard to realise our vision for Manston, which we know is equally important to our supporters in the local community."

Originally constructed as an RAF base in 1916, Manston Airport later functioned as a commercial terminal before shutting its doors in 2014.

In recent years, the site has served various purposes, including as overflow parking for the ferry port and as a filming location for the 2022 movie Empire of Light. During 2020, it was transformed into an emergency holding area for thousands of lorries amid the chaos triggered by French border closures.