Row over Kent Airport’s request for £600,000 ‘sweetener’
20.06.11
The Government was asked to offer a £600,000 ‘sweetener’ to an unnamed airline planning a new daily service from Kent's Manston Airport, it has emerged. Airport operator Infratil is in advanced confidential talks with an unidentified airline, which plans for a twice-daily service to an unnamed European destination from next April.
It has been reported in the local press that Kent County Council and operators Infratil pressed for a taxpayers’ handout to underwrite the costs of the service for 3 years, according to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. They show that in an ultimately unsuccessful bid for a share of Regional Growth Fund money from the Government, KCC and Infratil argued the six-figure subsidy was needed as the potential new operator faced a significant financial risk setting up the service.
Infratil has defended the plan. A spokesman said: ‘We are always in discussions with airlines and we always work with partners, such as Kent County Council, to put together the strongest possible case to attract new carriers and services. We believe using public money to underwrite the initial running costs of any new air service is excellent value for the public purse, as studies have shown that the biggest beneficiary is the economy of the community surrounding the airport.’
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