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Derelict UK airport reopens after almost a decade as bosses ‘look at budget flights to Europe’.

A derelict UK airport reopens after almost a decade, its bosses want to offer cheap passenger flights to Europe.

Manston Airport, which served as the home base for the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the World Wars, is currently being refurbished and is due to reopen in 2026.

The estimated £500m could result in affordable flights from Kent to holiday hotspots such as the Netherlands, Spain, Cyprus and Malta, The Sun reported.

Airport owners RiverOak Strategic Partners want the facility to initially open as a cargo airport with five flights a day. If the project proves to be profitable, the owners aim to offer passenger routes by 2028.

Derelict Manston Airport is reopening after almost a decade and bosses are trying to offer cheap passenger flights to Europe

The estimated £500m could lead to affordable flights from Kent to holiday hotspots such as the Netherlands, Spain, Cyprus and Malta

The estimated £500m could lead to affordable flights from Kent to holiday hotspots such as the Netherlands, Spain, Cyprus and Malta

Manston will undergo a “massive refurbishment” before returning to service.

Because the facility has received few updates since the RAF left in 1999, officials must update the airport’s terminals and runways.

Crews must also demolish existing buildings and build new roads better suited to heavy traffic.

While the airport is years away from offering passenger flights, bosses are said to be in talks with low-cost airlines including Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air.

Dutch company KLM could also be one of the airlines returning to the facility, data shows.

MailOnline has reached out to RiverOak Strategic Partners for comment.

Manston Airport, which served as the home base of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the World Wars, is currently undergoing refurbishment and hopes to reopen in 2026

Manston Airport, which served as the home base of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the World Wars, is currently undergoing refurbishment and hopes to reopen in 2026

Airport owners RiverOak Strategic Partners want the facility to initially open as a cargo airport with five flights a day.  If the project proves to be profitable, the owners aim to offer passenger routes by 2028

Airport owners RiverOak Strategic Partners want the facility to initially open as a cargo airport with five flights a day. If the project proves to be profitable, the owners aim to offer passenger routes by 2028

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View for days: The magnificent Ocean Hill on Gran Canaria offers several access options

View for days: The magnificent Ocean Hill on Gran Canaria offers several access options

The airport, historically known as RAF Manston, was first used in 1916 during the First World War. The facility was used again during World War II due to its proximity to the English Channel.

Almost destroyed and riddled with unexploded bombs, Manston suffered one of the worst bombing raids on any airfield during the Battle of Britain in the 1940s and has a rich flying history.

It was frequently used by badly damaged aircraft because it was so close to the front line and had a long runway, making it an emergency landing for East Coast bomber crews.

There were persistent rumors of a mutiny at Manston during the Battle of Britain, with claims that the ground crew were so angered by the constant attacks on the airfield that they lost morale.

The men were believed to have refused to leave their air raid shelter and only came out after being threatened with a gun by an officer. However, allegations of mutiny were never proven.

The airport also served as the site where Dambusters ace Sir Barnes Wallace conducted tests on the revolutionary jumping bomb during World War II.

Most recently, the site was used as a filming location and featured in Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light last year.

The airport was also used as a parking lot for truck drivers stranded between France and the UK.

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