Sir - I refer to the report of the UK Transport Select Committee on the provision of future runway capacity in south-east England.
There is already a high-standard, under-utilised, 2,750m (9,000ft) runway not much more than a couple of circuits away from the proposed Thames Estuary site. Its terminal is about a kilometre (a mile and a half) from a direct rail line to Eurostar's Ashford, Kent, international station and, consequently, the proposed high-speed-rail link to London.
The airport, which started life as a Royal Naval Air Station, now serves a dual military and civil role. Both the civil operators and the Ministry of Defence, would like to see the development of Kent International Airport (RAF Manston), as a fully fledged civil site. It offers the same capacity levels as those of Gatwick or Stansted and would provide a sensible, long-term, solution to the UK South East's problems.
For how long (particularly with the forthcoming loss of duty-free revenue) can the industry continue to support the "bottomless-pit" syndrome? The UK ought to make better use of what it has available.
DAVID HEDGES
Commercial Manager
Kent International Airport, UK
Source: Flight International