Kent to Norfolk VA flights news

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Member for

18 years 8 months

Posts: 4,721

Hi all some news about the Kent Norfolk VA flights

(Usual health warning on this announcement. All looks very vague.

Exclusive by Trevor Sturgess
LONG-PROMISED direct flights between Kent and Virginia look set to
take off next year.

Senior representatives of Norfolk International Airport, Virginia,
and Kent County Council are poised to sign an agreement that paves
the way for new aviation links from May 2007.

A weekly charter service between Norfolk and Manston would be
operated by Cosmos in the UK and CI Travel in the United States.

Norfolk Airport Authority has agreed to become a financial partner
and is understood to have pledged half the start-up costs.

The proposed service builds on a Memorandum of Understanding between
the state of Virginia and Kent signed in Richmond, Virginia, last
June.

One of its stated aims is the creation of an air bridge between the
two regions to promote business, education and leisure links.

Speaking from Fairfax, Virginia, Cllr Alex King, KCC deputy leader,
said: "A deal is close to being finalised and I expect the final
arrangements to be completed soon. Thorough investigations have
revealed a market for a charter flight between Kent and Virginia.

"It will get an extra lift from the 400th anniversary of the
establishment of the first colony at Jamestown by the three boats
that sailed out of the Thames from Gravesend. It is rather fitting
that this new opportunity comes on the 400th anniversary of the epic
tale of the first settlers."

Kent-based consultants Paul Tipple and Tony Freudmann of FT
International, who both previously worked for PlaneStation, the
collapsed former owner of Kent International Airport, Manston, and
low-fares airline EUjet, have investigated the feasibility of a
service.

Their report has convinced US and Kent officials that it would be
viable, given sufficient financial backing. However, KCC, already
bitten by its £100,000 cash injection in the failed EUjet venture,
has refused to invest in the proposed venture.

Norfolk Airport Authority chairman Peter Decker said: "The history of
England and Virginia is legendary. This is a tremendous opportunity
to be the air gateway for international visitors coming to the
Jamestown 2007 festivities. And also for local travellers to see one
of the most beautiful parts of Great Britain."

Norfolk International Airport is the major airport serving south east
Virginia and northeast North Carolina. Scheduled airlines currently
using the airport include American, Continental, Delta, Northwest,
Southwest, United Express and US Airways).

Lets hope this does happen as we need more passanger and freight flights into MSE

James

Original post

Member for

19 years

Posts: 1,190

What kinda planes would be used? Largest normaly flying out of ORF now is a Delta 757 once a day........FedEx has a couple of 727s going out every morning. But really....there just isnt all that much here.......unless your military........BTW......I'v noticed a white civil registered SA-330 Puma flying over Norfolk for the last couple of days........unusual bird for this area.....any idea who operates it?

Member for

18 years 8 months

Posts: 4,721

What kinda planes would be used? Largest normaly flying out of ORF now is a Delta 757 once a day........FedEx has a couple of 727s going out every morning. But really....there just isnt all that much here.......unless your military........BTW......I'v noticed a white civil registered SA-330 Puma flying over Norfolk for the last couple of days........unusual bird for this area.....any idea who operates it?

I heard somewhere that Monarch might do the Charter flights.

James