RiverOak sees a future for Manston in freight

James Stewart

The UK’s Manston Airport, which struggled to make money from freight before being closed, could be set to reopen after private equity company RiverOak applied for a Development Consent Order. The company has outlined its plans for the site, which will see it become an airport dedicated primarily  to cargo. The US company noted in its report that only East Midlands airport in the UK has significant dedicated air freight – but that it is far from London and the south east.

RiverOak has fairly ambitious plans – it is hoping to attract 500,000 or 600,000 tonnes of air freight by 2035. It said it would capture these volumes through a combination of business returning to the airport, taking market share form other airports, and general market growth.