Claims that Air Alderney flights from Lydd to Le Touquet might start in summer
Commercial flights from Lydd airport, by Air Alderney, may start this summer. The small specialist airline will fly from the airfield on Romney Marsh to destinations including the French airport of Le Touquet, which is a 15 minute flight from Lydd. The runway at Lydd is one of the shortest on mainland UK at 1,505m – more than 2,000m less than the two runways at Heathrow. A 300m expansion of the runway was approved 10 years ago, along with a new terminal building, but work has yet to begin on either. The airport also likes to call itself London Ashford Airport, though it is miles – and a hard journey – from London. It is controlled by Saudi businessman Sheikh Fahad Al-Athel. In 2013 the airport was given the permission to extend the airport and runway, to take larger holiday destination aircraft. The plans faced legal challenges with campaigners opposed to the expansion at a site which is close to the Dungeness nuclear plant, an RSPB nature reserve and a military range. The Lydd Airport Action Group took the expansions plans to the high court, but their bid to block them was thrown out. It is unclear whether commercial flights will actually return, or be profitable.
Disused UK airport once busier than Gatwick to restart passenger flights this summer
London Ashford Airport, also known as Lydd, will see Air Alderney flights take off from this summer, the first time commercial flights have operated from the Kent airport since 2018
By Josh Bolton (Mirror)
28 Mar 2023
Commercial flights are going to restart from a long disused airport which was once busier than Gatwick.
London Ashford Airport, also known as Lydd, has not launched any commercial flights since 2018.
That is soon to change once Air Alderney starts operating regular services from the Kent airport this summer.
The small specialist airline will fly from the airfield on Romney Marsh to destinations including the French airport of Le Touquet, Kent Online reports.
It will be one of the quickest ways to get from the UK to France, as Lydd and the seaside town of Le Touqet are just a 15 minute flight from one another.
The return of flights to the area will be a major boost for an area that was once served by a thriving airport which was the first to be built in the UK post-WWII.
The airport has not been used by passenger flights for years. At its peak London Ashford Airport handled 223,000 passengers, 37,000 more than London Gatwick.
David Hainsworth, from airport operator FAL Aviation, said: “Our short, medium and long-term business plan to transform the airport continues at pace.
“Re-organisation of airport operations, and the build of two new hangars, is designed to support existing and new businesses which include engineering services, search and rescue, drone operations, flying schools, government agencies, business jet services and general aviation.
“Air Alderney commence passenger services to Le Touquet and other destinations from summer 2023.”
The runway at Lydd is one of the shortest on mainland UK at 1,505m – more than 2,000m less than the two runways at Heathrow. A 300m expansion of the runway was approved 10 years ago, along with a new terminal building, but work has yet to begin on either.
The airport is now operated by London Ashford Airport Ltd, controlled by Saudi businessman Sheikh Fahad Al-Athel.
With a net worth estimated at $2.2 billion he is one of the most powerful men in his country, Kent Live reported.
As part of a £17 million project Mr Al-Athel was given the permission to extend the airport, and transform it into a regional hub capable of accommodating bigger aircraft including Boeing 737s and Airbus 319s, and handling up to 500,000 passengers a year.
But the plans faced legal challenges with campaigners opposed to the expansion at a site which is close to the Dungeness nuclear plant, an RSPB nature reserve and a military range.
The Lydd Airport Action Group took the expansions plans to the high court, but their bid to block them was thrown out.
Whether or not the expansion does go ahead, and whether the return of commercial flights will impact this, remains to be seen.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/uk-ireland/disused-uk-airport-once-busier-29568129
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see earlier:
Lydd Airport Action Group’s Appeal unsuccessful so Lydd expansion can go ahead
Lydd Airport Action Group (LAAG) is disappointed that they have been unable to quash the government’s decision to grant Lydd Airport permission to extend its runway and build a new terminal to support a throughput of 500,000 passengers per annum. LAAG and the RSPB both challenged the government’s decision. Their Section 288 Appeal focused heavily on process, not the merits of the facts. The impact of allowing the expansion of Lydd airport is likely to be highly negative for many people in the area, not to mention wildlife. The airport development will lead to the introduction of large aircraft, such as the Boeing 737, taking off and landing within 60 seconds flight time of the Dungeness Nuclear power complex. No other regional airport in Europe, and possibly the world, will be located as close to a nuclear power complex. LAAG contends this development will result in the possibility of an aircraft accident at the Dungeness Nuclear power complex. LAAG believes Lydd Airport’s expansion is not in the public interest. RSPB says the area round the airport is of “exceptional” importance to birds and the expansion would damage unique habitats on Romney Marsh.
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