Airfield to assist relocated rescue helicopters

Search and rescue helicopters that were moved out of Kent in a row with their host airport will be supported by a different airfield in the county.

The two coastguard helicopters will use Manston Airport in Thanet for crew changes, refuelling and "operational requirements", operator Bristow said.

The aircraft were relocated to Lee-on-Solent in Hampshire - about 100 miles (161km) from their prior base at Lydd Airport - after a dispute over costs.

Lydd Airport says it "continues to engage with operators and relevant agencies".

Bristow said support from Manston Airport enabled search and rescue teams "to deliver uninterrupted, effective service in the area, working alongside other HM Coastguard assets and teams".

Manston previously served as a search and rescue base, but the helicopters had operated out of Lydd since 2015.

Search and rescue teams were called out more than 250 times in 2025.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said search and rescue services were "operating as usual".

Operation of an unmanned drone has relocated to Dover and two fixed-wing aircraft are now stationed in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, "with operational support from Manston", according to the agency.

Bristow previously said it had relocated the aircraft after the "suspension of out-of-hours access and the introduction of significant cost increases" at Lydd.

The airfield had said its "core costs" were not covered, adding "clearly, that's unsustainable".

A Lydd Airport spokesperson told the BBC on Thursday that putting operations on "a safe and sustainable footing" would "provide a platform for essential services" and "investment in aviation innovation in Kent".

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