Confirmed: Manston Airport up for sale, as Infratil also sheds Prestwick
Manston Airport has been put up for sale by its New Zealand based owners, Infratil, leaving the future of its staff of around 100 uncertain. At Infratil’s Investor Day it announced that it intends to sell its two UK airports Manston and Prestwick because of a refocusing of its investment profile. MP Sir Roger Gale says “more than one serious player” was interested in buying Manston. For the time being it is business as usual for the airport. Infratil will prioritise its other business interests – which include electricity generation and retailing and natural gas as well as transport provision in New Zealand. The sale and the chance for a new start, could be good news for local residents profoundly opposed to the threatened night flights against which they have campaigned forcefully.
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by Nick Ames, Reporter (Kent News)
Thursday, March 8, 2012
But MP Sir Roger optimistic about its future
Manston Airport has been put up for sale by its New Zealand based owners, Infratil, leaving the future of its staff of around 100 uncertain.
At the company’s Investor Day it announced that it intends to sell its two UK airports Manston Airport and Prestwick Airport, Glasgow because of a refocusing of its investment profile.
And MP Sir Roger Gale says he is optimistic about the future of the Thanet airport as “more than one serious player” was interested in acquiring the hub.
Charles Buchanan, chief executive of Manston Airport, said: “This represents an opportunity for Manston to build upon the improvements Infratil has already made, and attract new investment into the airport and stimulate the growth needed to make it a success in the future.
“For now and during this process it will be business as usual for the airport. I certainly view this as an opportunity to work with new investors whose development strategies and investment profiles more closely match the needs of businesses such as ours at this time.”
Analysts say Infratil has taken the decision to prioritise its other business interests – which include electricity generation and retailing and natural gas as well as transport provision in New Zealand.
Accountant and finance company PricewaterhouseCoopers has been appointed as advisers to assist in the sale.
PwC Partner, Coolin Desai, said: “Manston represents a strategic opportunity for an investor in light of the well documented congestion affecting all major airports serving London and the South East, with a runway capable of accommodating large aircraft including 747s.”
The company added that it was too early to release details of any price for the airport and its first duty was to make investors aware that it was on the market.
North Thanet`s MP Sir Roger Gale described the move as “a great opportunity”.
He said: “I understand that there is more than one serious player interested in the possibility of taking over and developing the passenger and cargo potential of Manston.
“With the ongoing debate about the future of aviation in the South East in general and of the UK as an international hub in particular, it is clearly vital that additional capacity is brought on stream in the immediate future. Manston offers the facility to take some of the pressure of Heathrow, via Gatwick and that facility needs to be utilised by an operator and/or airline that will make the most of the, at present, under used airport.
The job creation potential of Manston remains very considerable indeed and I hope that a swift and successful transfer to a new and dynamic owner can be achieved in the immediate future.”
The airport has recently installed facilities to enable it to take in horses as well as being given extra slots during July and August as part of plans to prevent overcrowding at airports during the Olympic and Paralympic games.
It has also put forward expansion plans which have included night flights – an unpopular move with many residents who fear noise disruption.
Airport CEOs upbeat [Making the best of a bad job]
Two minds with but a single thought – Manston and Prestwick
Iain Cochrane, chief executive of Glasgow Prestwick Airport:
“I believe this is an excellent opportunity for us to attract new investment into the airport to provide the stimulus for future growth.”
STV 8th March 2012
Charles Buchanan, chief executive of Manston Airport:
“This represents an opportunity for Manston to build upon the improvements Infratil has already made, and attract new investment into the airport and stimulate the growth needed to make it a success in the future.”
kentonline 8th March 2012
http://www.hernebaymatters.com/nonightflights-blog/airport-ceos-upbeat.html
Reality hits home, Infratil leave town
8.3.2012 (No Night Flights)
Delusion has finally been swept away by the onslaught of reality and Infratil are throwing in the towel. This has been a long time coming, and Nostrildamus predicted it in November 2010.
Manston Airport has been put up for sale. Bosses at Kent International Airport told staff at 10.30am yesterday (Friday) morning. The shock decision was made by owners Infratil. The New Zealand-based company also plans to sell its airport at Prestwick near Glasgow.
IoT Gazette 8th March 2012
This is obviously bad news for all those employed at the airport. Manston was clearly one of Infratil’s rare bad investments, and the workforce at the airport did their best to make a silk purse out of a flying pig’s ear, but to no avail. After having been strung along for so long, I hope that they get decent redundancy packages from Infratil. Except Charles Buchanan, and whoever runs their complaints department, obviously.
One excellent aspect of this is that TDC now have an unmissable opportunity to start with a clean slate. If Manston is sold as an airport, the Council can enter into fresh negotiations with the new owners and arrive at a planning permission that satisfies the owner’s need for a stable long-term framework within which to develop their business plans, and the Council can write a new S106 agreement that is effective in protecting the interests of the residents of north-east Kent.
Have a look at these posts for a positive take on how we could get a win-win result.
http://www.hernebaymatters.com/nonightflights-blog/reality-hits-home-infratil-leave-town.html
Infratil puts Kent International Airport at Manston up for sale
MANSTON Airport has been put up for sale.
The shock decision was made by owners Infratil and bosses at Kent International Airport told staff at 10.30am today.
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Manston Airport has been put up for sale by Infratil
Infratil says its decision arises from a refocusing of its investment profile. The New Zealand-based company also plans to sell its airport at Prestwick near Glasgow.
Charles Buchanan, chief executive of Manston Airport, said: “This represents an opportunity for Manston to build upon the improvements Infratil has already made, and attract new investment into the airport and stimulate the growth needed to make it a success in the future.
“For now and during this process it will be business as usual for the airport.
“I certainly view this as an opportunity to work with new investors whose development strategies and investment profiles more closely match the needs of businesses such as ours at this time.”
PricewaterhouseCoopers has been appointed as advisers to assist in the sale of Manston.
PwC partner Coolin Desai said: “Kent International represents a strategic opportunity for an investor in light of the well documented congestion affecting all major airports serving London and the South East.
“With a runway capable of accommodating large aircraft including 747s, there is significant potential to grow both passenger and cargo traffic.”
http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/BREAKING-NEWS-Manston-Airport-sale/story-15435048-detail/story.html