Humberside Airport - General Thread

[Aviador]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

CAA Stats for June 2012

A total of 24,250 passengers used Humberside airport during June down -26.5% on the same month last year. Rolling year passengers for the airport stand at 254,107 down -11.6%

Very poor figures from the airport. How low can it go?

 

[Aviador]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

AMS 9805, -4%
ABZ 2717, -4.6%
PMI 1564, -21.7%
DLM 1483, -57.8%
HER 1282, -4.9%
JER 374, -11%
BOJ 1371, +90%

24,250 -26.5%

Truly dreadful, but no worse than was to be expected. No end in sight unfortunately.

Doesn't help when the airports primary service Amsterdam is showing a 4% reduction.

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

To be honest, AMS and ABZ tend to fluctuate. Unless we were getting solid double digit reductions on both then I dont think there is too much cause for concern just yet. The problem is evident when you look at the remaining leisure routes, and there is still only Bourgas on sale for next year. A major source of revenue for the airport, car parking, will be almost non-existant next year.

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

A post on fruit suggests Richard Lake will be purchasing a 'signicant stake' in HUY once work on the ILS is completed.

I was under the impression the ILS work had finished some months ago now? If this is true, then I hope MAG will retain a share, and that RL isn't just seeing this as an opportunity to make the place into his own vintage warbird playground. I would also be concerned about certain competition issues due to his shares in Eastern Airways..

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

Lifted by 'Humberside' from the Bolton Council website..

Manchester Airport Plc (MAPLC) sought the approval of shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting on the 16 April 2012 for the disposal of shares in Humberside International Airport Limited.

Given the urgency of this matter under rule 16 of Part IV of the Council’s Constitution, an urgent decision was required for the Council’s minority shareholders vote to agree to the disposal, as set out above.

A strategic review carried out by Manchester Airport Group identified Humberside would not form part of the longer term asset base for the Airport. MAG has identified that:
1. Humberside International Airport Limited is forecast to generate earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of £0.1M and make an earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) loss of £0.4M for the year ending 31 March 2012.
2. Humberside International Airport Limited has a defined Benefit Pension Scheme with an estimated £6.6M deficit as at September 2011 (valued on a cessation basis).
3. Humberside International Airport Limited has a short term cash funding requirement of £3M over the next 3 years.
4. The Airport makes up a disproportionate amount of Senior Management Time relative to its size in MAG.
5. Humberside International Airport Limited is considered non-core to MAPLC’s strategy.

Manchester Airport Plc has received an offer to sell its 82.7% shareholding in Humberside International Airport Limited for circa £2.3M. The Airport has confirmed that this offer commercially
represents best value for its shares and fits in with the longer term strategic review of MAPLC.

The proposal to sell Humberside International Airport Limited is classed as a “reserved matter” under the Articles of Association and therefore, needs the agreement of the shareholders by ordinary resolution.

The plot thickens. One thing is for sure, and that is MAG have clearly had no interest in developing HUY since their strategic review in 2008, which would partly explain why HUY has been stagnant for so long. Losses have been reduced from 2010/11 from £0.7m to £0.4m which is one positive.

If it is Richard Lake who has put in the bid, then I would hope he continues to try and develop all aspects of the airports business. £2.7m does seem rather cheap for a going concern though?

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

It seems the sale has now gone through..

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... e-airport-

Hopefully the new owners, who have extensive knowledge of the local market, can breathe new life into the place. Rumours this is the first of a couple if big announcrments..

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

New holiday routes on way as airport changes hands




Published on Friday 3 August 2012 09:25



Extra routes to holiday destinations are in the offing at Humberside Airport after it was sold to a new operator for an undisclosed sum.



After more than two decades in control, Manchester Airports Group has sold its 82.7 per cent shareholding in the Yorkshire airport to Eastern Airways to focus on its larger Manchester, East Midlands and Bournemouth Airports.

North Lincolnshire Council, however, has retained its minority stake in the Kirmington-based airport.

While locally convenient, the airport faces stiff competition from Robin Hood airport at Doncaster and further afield and has been criticised for the cost of flights.

Currently, KLM flies three times a day to its international hub at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport while Eastern Airlines themselves run four flights a day to Aberdeen. Charter flights serve 10 destinations, including Bulgaria, Crete and Turkey.

However, Humberside has the second biggest airport-based heliport in the country, operating 1,000 flights a month to the offshore gas industry, and there are hopes that the development of offshore wind will also bring in new opportunities.

Staff have been told it is business as usual with the current airport management team continuing to manage the operation.

Head of business development Paul Litten said they had been negotiating new routes which they should be in a position to announce within a month of so.

He went on: “Eastern Group would not have made an investment if they weren’t prepared to secure the future and develop the airport.

“It is very exciting and it is a local focus, which is different to it being run out of Manchester - having people in the airport who are stakeholders and who have belief and investment in the development of its future.”

Chairman of Eastern Group Bryan Huxford said: “We are making a strategic financial investment acquiring Humberside Airport. The airport has potential for growth, and under the present airport management team, supported by Eastern Group, will develop in accordance with the business plan already in place.”

MAG acquired a majority stake in Humberside Airport in 1999 for £10m and since then, over £7m has been invested.

Travel agent Andrew Earle said he hoped Eastern Group would put on new destinations: “With Eastern Group there is the strong probability they will be able to pull in aircraft to operate routes. Bulgaria, Crete, Turkey and Majorca have been on the agenda from the year dot; we know Tenerife would be extremely popular and I’d expect that to be on the agenda.”

Coun Liz Redfern, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “These measures are vital in helping secure a viable future for Humberside Airport.

“There are a number of unique opportunities to deliver jobs and growth and support, and underpin further investment in the area. The airport has a fantastic business park with huge potential.

“Its location is perfect with easy access to the ports and South Humber Gateway – vital to the future success of our region.

“Working together, we will do all we can to attract further investment and development to North Lincolnshire and create more jobs for local people to secure a promising future.”

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business ... -1-4799604

Lets hope something positive comes from this.

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

jetXtra have updated their website with news dated 1st September 2012 saying Majorca to return for Summer 2013...

:s_mad

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

Another poor month but hardly unexpected.

AMS 9418 -10%, not great but back to 2010 levels.
ABZ 2769 up 18%
DLM 693 -67%
HER 1650 up 16%
PMI 333 -78%
BOJ 1712 up 95%
JER 410 -14%

Overall month 22,972 -22%

For the year 247,741 -13%

 

[Aviador]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

Very disappointing figures. Has the new owner announced any intentions on what it plans to do to reverse the trend other than what has already been mentioned about renewable energy associated traffic.

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

Nothing official, except the quote as 'business as usual' from Bryan Huxford.. Senior management have been retained and are said to be more positive now.

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

A more detailed article from the last one has appeared on thisisgrimsby today..

Airport reaches new heights with more routes on horizon Wednesday, August 15, 2012 Grimsby Telegraph
Follow
The ink is still drying on the deal that has seen Humberside Airport return to local hands, with resident airline Eastern Group now at the helm. David Laister and Catherine Lea spoke to Paul Litten, the airport's head of business development, about new routes, offshore gas and the potential to become a vital cog in the Humber's renewable future.

WHEN aeroplanes first took to the skies over Kirmington's iconic green spire in 1941, package holidays had not even entered the English language and the North Sea was a natural defence, not an exploration zone.

​
Starting life as an RAF base, between 1941 and 1945 the airport played a vital role in Britain's war effort.

When the troops returned home it was returned to farmland, then, in 1960, it was put back into aviation use.

By 1969 the local council had bought the strip and were working on plans to revamp the site into a civil passenger airport, with the first passenger terminal opening in 1974.

Today, the airport serves about 275,000 passengers each year, a substantial reduction from the half a million pre-recession and pre-Doncaster days, but a mix of holiday charters and connecting flights enable holidaymakers and business users to reach just about any destination they desire.

But equally important is the airport's heliport, which sees around 1,000 helicopter flights carrying workers to and from the North Sea offshore gas platforms every month.

Paul Litten has been in post just over a year, the commercial element of a team alongside the operational and legislative role currently served by Simon Whitby. He said: "We are a key piece of infrastructure for the gas industry and have been a key part of its development. If we didn't exist, someone would have to go and build us."

This focus on offshore crew transfer has been key to the airport's growth. However, this has helped fuel rumours Humberside is not focused enough on leisure.

Mr Litten said: "We do have a very large emphasis on business users, but we have also been mindful to attract as many tour operators as we can to develop more routes out of the airport. We are doing all we can but it is not always our decision."

The decision to operate more routes is down to the operators, a group still licking its wounds from a painful recession that isn't healing quickly. In order to introduce new routes, operators need to know the demand is there.

But new routes are not established overnight and it can take a while to capture the imagination of potential passengers, by which point the operator has already pulled the route.

This happened in 2010 when the proposed flights to Belfast were pulled before they had even taken off due to low ticket sales.

And, in an economic climate which has seen even long-established firms go the wall, companies are even more nervous about stepping into the unknown.

"A number of operators have gone bust over the last couple of years, and others have lost a lot of money," said Mr Litten.

"Many have been reducing the number of routes or airports they operate from, which means, unfortunately, people like you and I have to travel further for flights.

"But there are one million people within a 25-mile radius of this airport so we can offer a level of convenience others can't.

"Instead of driving for hours and then spending lots of money to park, people can fly more or less from their doorstep.

"This makes us unique and we have spent a lot of time talking to operators about what we can offer. I think there is positive news to come on that very soon."

While Mr Litten remains tight lipped about what these new routes could be, it is obvious a lot of hard work is already paying off, with new direct routes already underway, including to Crete.

"Humberside Airport has a great loyal following," added Mr Litten.

"We want to continue to provide a great service to them from a central location.

"It's about developing and continuing to offer services to the western Mediterranean, Bulgaria and Turkey, where it's safe and the weather's great.

"And the message that people can reach any corner of the world from here is now getting through.

"Figures show 96 per cent of people flying KLM to Amsterdam do not stay in Amsterdam – they continue to other parts of the world, and KLM has been very pleased with the extra passengers this year.

"It is my job, as well as that of my colleagues, to continue pushing that message.

"If we could get to 500,000 passengers, as a business it makes a good profitable return, and the important thing is it keeps jobs secure for local people. If we can become a hub where people know they can take a holiday from, complete a business trip via and bring cargo in, we are satisfying the need, local to them."

Bosses will meet with the Dutch national airline next week, and a call went across the North Sea as soon as news of the acquisition from Manchester Airport Group (MAG) was broken to staff.

A five-year contract was renewed 18 months ago for the thrice daily service. "It seems to be going very well with them," said Mr Litten. "There has been an uplift in passengers of between 8 and 9 per cent over the past 12 months which is very positive. It shows that the level of customer base is there in the region."

The 45 minute hop ties in with five inter-continental departures from Schipol, opening up the world without the need for motorways, tanks of fuel, expensive parking or overnight hotel accommodation. And it certainly mitigates any extra on the ticket price. It is not just one way either.

"We see people from Hong Kong, South Korea, China, Canada, South America. They are all coming into this area to see someone about something. It is a varied cross-section, but there are a lot of people in construction, offshore and power."

This local focus has certainly been boosted after the 82.7 per cent shareholding in the airport was transferred to the firm for an understood £2.3-million. MAG is a passenger-focused operation, and the numbers passing through Humberside and the ongoing double-dip recession meant it was an increasingly fringe operation.

"The fact we now have a different shareholder doesn't alter the way we are running the airport," said Mr Litten, "but it means the viability of the airport and its future security as a vital piece of local infrastructure have been secured.

"Being owned by Manchester has been great but, obviously, there was more focus on Manchester."

While Mr Litten continues to bang the drum about the tourist destinations within reach of holidaymakers travelling from Humberside, he is not about to apologise for focusing on providing a vital route for workers – not just in the offshore gas industry, "which has recently been boosted by the discovery of more gas", but also for the burgeoning offshore wind industry. Round One and Round Two farms can be easily served by boat, but Round Three will see turbines built more than 100 miles from port, in choppy waters, with helicopter transfers to larger vessels staying out for weeks at a time a likely scenario.

"We're absolutely focused on ensuring we do everything we can to keep potential offshore development on the south and north banks," he said.

"We have got to provide a focus on growth for holiday makers but also the infrastructure to get those same people to where the work is.

"When the airport was built, nobody knew of the gas fields but now we are a vital piece of infrastructure for the industry.

"We already know of the potential in renewables and are already here, so we could become a cargo hub for the components and electronics that will be required.

"These are very exciting times."

Mr Litten said key businesses in the gas industry were already talking to them about future development, be it aviation or property linked on the sprawling business park that lays off the A18.

"We hope to do what we can to attract them here," he said. "If we can bring people in here from a 200-mile radius who are working offshore, why as a company would you have all the other elements based elsewhere? We have other interested parties too, we don't just deal with the offshore industries."

This could be the under-used perishables hub, which could become a major asset in the reinvigoration of the seafood cluster in Grimsby currently underway.

And as for working for a firm with a strong background in flying, Mr Litten said: "It gives a real insight into the dynamics. As an airport you think you know everything you need to know. As a plane operator you come from a very different position."

http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/Airport- ... story.html

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

jetXtra expected to announce PMI and ALC this week for S13..

EDIT; put back again it seems..

 

[Aviador]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

Do they have the authority to do so this time around Pug? I can't say I wound be over happy booking with them after last years performance.

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

I'm not sure it all seems a bit quiet this time around. I know he has changed his ATOL 'partner' so not convinced.

I agree, if he isnt even prepared to pay for a professional website then why would the CAA-or anyone else- be prepared to back him?

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

There is some belief that the aforementioned flights to PMI and ALC may not actually be connected to jetXtra. Its a watch this space moment I guess.

 

[tleeds]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

Have they got a website or anything that can shed more light on the situation..?

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

All they've got at the moment is this shoddy home screen..

http://www.jetxtra.com/

A few weeks ago the news section was visible including a press release dated 1st September regarding weekly flights to PMI on a Friday.. The whole section was quickly removed once it was highlighted on another forum.

The flights to PMI and ALC in the lowcostholidays.com website scheduled for a Tuesday are strikingly similar to what jetXtra had initially planned earlier in the year, operating PMI-HUY-ALC-HUY-PMI.. Someone has suggested that jetXtra may not be connected at all, however I cannot see who else would operate a pattern like that barring perhaps Vueling, but at CWL they operate to 35 minute turn arounds as opposed to the hour ones planned for this one..

Tuesdays 28May, 02-16July, 03September
Palma Mallorca 0700 - 0845 Humberside
Humberside 1720 - 2105 Palma Mallorca
and
Humberside 0945 - 1330 Alicante
Alicante 1430 - 1620 Humberside

Every Tuesday between 28th May and 03 September is bookable, however there is no airline mentioned just a symbol which says 'charter'.

http://www.lowcostholidays.com/?_$ja=kw ... tAodzWEAew

 

[tleeds]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

Hmm, it would be good to see Humberside get some new services, it's charter operations were quite dismal this Summer, and next Summer looks to be just as quiet..!

Fingers crossed something will come about this speculation!

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

Fingers crossed something will come about this speculation!

Something is highly likely to be announced soon regarding the quote I posted, only who it actually is is speculation.