Manston Airport: KLM airline 'will not return'

Dutch airline KLM will not return to an airport threatened by closure even if a buyer is found, it has confirmed.

Up to 150 mostly part-time jobs were put at risk last month when loss-making Manston Airport in Kent revealed it was in talks over a possible closure.

KLM, which began operating twice-daily return flights to Amsterdam last April, then announced it would axe its Cityhopper flights from 10 April.

The last flight will be at 10:30 BST on Wednesday.

KLM Cityhopper managing director, Boet Kreiken, told Air Transport World that it was impossible to do "business in a shaky environment".

"Now it is game over; we will redeploy the aircraft. We are gone.

"We can't flip-flop in and out all the time. That is not the way we work."

'No offers'

Manston Airport was bought by the co-founder of the Stagecoach Group, Ann Gloag, for £1 from the New Zealand company Infratil in October.

Since then it is understood the airport has been losing about £10,000 a day.

A 45-day consultation on its possible closure is due to end on 11 May.

An initial offer for the airport from an unnamed buyer was withdrawn without explanation last week.

On Tuesday, the owners told the BBC there were "no offers on the table".

The airport has said it will remain operational until at least the end of April and staff would be given 10 days notice of closure thereafter.