Cosmos pulls out of Manston as US flight plans grounded

Package holiday giant Cosmos has this morning confirmed it has pulled the plug on its planned flights to the US from Thanet's Manston Airport. The tour giant, which promised to make the Thanet airport a major departure point for flights to the United States, has failed to sell enough seats both in the UK and US.

It is understood the flights to and from Virginia had sold just 600 tickets in the UK - and a mere 200 in the US. That represents just ten per cent of the tickets available for the planned weekly service. It is a blow to Kent County Council which backed the operator as soon as it showed interest in using the airport and forged new links with the state of Virginia, in the east of the US, south of Washington. Kent County Council leader, Paul Carter, said:

"The direct flights project was just one part of our initiatives to regenerate East Kent. It was a calculated risk that had significant potential and could have delivered major benefits for the region. Enormous efforts have been made on both sides of the Atlantic to promote the flights. But, despite putting back the deadline for decision three times, in order to see if the market would respond and pick up, sales have failed to reach a critical mass. In the absence of any other organisation prepared to share the financial risk of continuing with the project, it would not be prudent or viable to invest public money in the venture. We will now redouble our efforts to stimulate inward investment and economic regeneration."                

The council is believed to have already sunk in £100,000 into the project of council tax-payers money. The county council lost a similar figure after backing Irish airline EUJet which started operating out of Manston two years ago but failed to make the project work. Cosmos began promoting its flights to Virginia last October and flights were expected to begin from May this year. But today it was impossible to book flights out of Manston via the tour operator's web site. All monies will be refunded to travellers who have already booked on the service or an alternative offered.

YourCanterbury 28th Feb 2007

Travel agent is to be based on-site at Manston airport

Brockmans Travel will be selling holidays and flights at Kent International from 2007. Brockmans will be selling holidays and flights from Kent International from firms including Kent Escapes, which is operating to Benidorm, Majorca and Faro, Cosmos, which is flying to Norfolk, Virginia, in the USA and Newmarket Holidays which is offering flights to Italy. Paula Horne, passenger development manager for Infratil Airports Europe, which owns the airport, said:

"This is great news - customers can take advantage of a well-respected travel agency in the airport, who will meet all their requirements for bookings and professional advice. This will really enhance the quality of service at Kent International and we are confident their presence will contribute to a successful year for the airport and our partners."

Brockmans officially launches at Manston on January 13.

KentNews 27th Dec 2006

Bookings start for Manston flights to Virginia

Long-haul flights and package holidays to America are now available to book from Kent International Airport (KIA). Cosmos Holidays has launched its travel brochure for next year’s transatlantic service from Manston to Virginia, which will see thousands of American tourists flocking to the county each year. The direct charter flights to the American colonial state will be the first of their kind in the UK. Chief executive of KIA operators Infratil Steven Fitzgerald said:

"Cosmos Holidays choosing KIA for this service is due to the support and interest received from local groups. Everyone is driving in the same direction and that gives us great confidence. This is a fantastic programme of flights, which I believe it will be the first of many."

From May 2, planes will fly direct from KIA to Norfolk Airport in Virginia every Wednesday until October. Virginia boasts mountains, sandy beaches, historic sites and one of the world’s best golf courses, and was the location of the country’s first surviving English settlement in 1607. Prices for flights and holidays start from £399 per person. The Virginia flights will bring the number of destinations KIA will fly to next year up to four, including trips to Faro, Alicante and Palma with Kent Escapes.

KentNews 7th Sep 2006



Direct flights to USA from Manston next year

Direct flights transatlantic flights will start from Kent International Airport next year. Tour operator Cosmos and its sister airline, Monarch, will start direct transatlantic flights between Manston in Thanet and Virginia next year. The weekly charter flights will be the first direct passenger link between the United States and Kent and will initially operate during the spring and summer. The move follows a feasibility study carried out by air industry consultants.

Norfolk International Airport in Virginia is contributing half the start up costs – £400,000 – with Kent County Council and a coalition of investors including SEEDA, Infratil Airports Europe Ltd, Kent Attractions LLP, East Kent Partnership, Thanet District Council, Canterbury City Council and Gravesham Borough Council providing the rest. KCC leader Paul Carter said,

"The 400th anniversary of the founding of the colony of Jamestown in Virginia is coming up next year with strong Kent links; Dover Cruise Terminal is going from strength to strength. There will never be a better time to establish a direct air link between Kent and the States to help boost Kent International Airport, our tourism industry and in particular hard pressed East Kent."

Terry Williamson, Cosmos Holidays managing director, said:

"It is indeed an exciting development for both the Kent International area and us. Whilst relatively unknown to many in the UK, Virginia offers a huge array of attractions and places of interest and given the 400th anniversary celebrations, it is an excellent time to launch this service."

YourMaidstone 23rd Jul 2006