KENT AIRPORT, the former Manston and just outside Broadstairs, has been purchased from the administrators of Planestation Plc, by Infratil who also own Prestwick, Glasgow”s alternative airport. The new owners say that their first priority is to re-open the existing freight facilities, which will happen virtually immediately. They acknowledge that passenger operations will take longer and clearly any scheduled services are someway off. However the 2750m runway is capable of serving aircraft as large as a Boeing 747, the current facilities themselves are capable of a 700,000 passenger throughput. Infratil is listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange and describes itself as a ”specialist investor in infrastructure and utility assets”. Besides thriving Prestwick Airport it also owns and operates Wellington Airport in New Zealand and several regional airports in Germany.
http://www.infratil.com/kent_international_airport.htm