Interestingly there was an article in the Skyport newspaper (the freebie newspaper for airport staff and local residents!), which said that KL have announced that there has been quite a bit of interest in the LPL-AMS route, with a strong no. of advance bookings before its start date on 29th March!:)

Its strange how KLM seem to value UK regional links where as BD/BMI do not. In the end money leaves the country and is spent in Holland, the UK and LHR looses out. Plus no rail connections to LHR except London

Good on Flybe for at least giving Kent International another go. There’s definately a good catchment area for MSE to exploit. You’re probably right about them using it as a tester route to see if expansion is viable.

Expecting an annoucement regarding Gatwick operations this week as it has been reported that slots have been asked for at a few European destinations – Dusseldorf was mentioned on PPRUNE, however that seems a wild outside possibility given the slot restraints there.

Not all positive though as PPRUNE rumours (sorry for these) say that the Norwich base is to close at the end of the current winter season.

It is good Flybe are taking an interest in Manston, as its still quite a trot from East Kent to Gatwick. There used to be flights from Lydd (also in Kent) to Jersey years back with Dan Air.

oh dear could mean a long train journey for me !!! Wonder if anyone else will pick up MAN-NWI route, cuts about 5 or 6 hours of the rail option. Having said that I cant really think who would do it in the UK ? Maybe Eastern Airways, they were pushed off the route by Flybe.

Flybe do seem to move in to airports then move out again after a fairly short stint, they did the same at LPL. i flew on several routes with them from there to EXT, SOU (a number of times) and down from Edinburgh, all pretty well supported. They even use to use 146s on LPL-SOU, very busy flight. All these routes have gone, although they are back again with LPL-IOM.

Very good news for Liverpool, gives the airport links to long-haul destinations it hasnt had for many a year, not really since British Midland cut LPL-LHR. I cant see the London link returning, not with faster trains etc, VLM tried London City for quite a while but this did not offer much in the ways of onward connections LPL-AMS with KLM will. Plus the existing LPL-AMS service with easyjet is not really point to point only, as all locos are.

Hope it is well supported.

Im always wondering if something will develope from SEN, was popular in years past, charter to the Med etc. Has the runway been extended there does anyone know ?
I think there maybe a station more handy for the airport now also ?? The track runs around the edge.

No I didnt but wish I had, love the VC10