Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) put Manston’s request in the context of increasing demand for aviation services, particularly in the south-east of England:
[p3] … the demand for aviation services is set to dramatically increase in the next 20 years. The conclusion is therefore that better use needs to be made of the existing facilities.
The obvious solution would be for Manston to use its daytime capacity, but this never gets a mention.
The PB report says Manston wants night flights for freight:
[p4] … the ability to operate at night will be a crucial factor in attracting a regular air freight service provider which will improve the financial viability of the airport in the short-term.
The PB report says Manston's forecasts in its Master Plan are unrealistic:
[p4] … despite the forecasts only being two years old, the airport is not achieving the level of forecast passenger growth
The PB report says short-term passenger growth would come from carriers based at other airports, which would not need a night flight facility:
[p5] Therefore, in the short term we do not believe that the airport can justify a night flying quota system to support passenger growth.
Next installment: Manston’s in the wrong place