Blackpool Airport

[TheLocalYokel]

With commercial traffic withdrawn from the likes of Manston, Plymouth and now possibly Blackpool, and with question marks over such as Durham Tees Valley, and with Cardiff and Prestwick nationalised to keep them open (certainly in the case of Cardiff as Wales's First Minister used this scenario as justification for state purchase) the view of some that the UK has too many regional airports may be starting to be shown to be true.

Many are certainly in the wrong place, often because former military airfields were taken over or pre-war civic pride insisted on city airports that quickly became too small and incapable of proper expansion.

The main losers when airports close are the staff especially in areas where jobs aren't plentiful. It's to be hoped that a last minute knight in shining armour rides over the horizon and is able to turn Blackpool Airport into a viable, profitable concern but the portents don't seem hopeful.

 

[Aviador]

Plea to invest in threatened town airport

Pool Aviation is one of the on-site companies affected by the potential closure of the airport. Simon Menzies, managing director of Pool Aviation, says "its commercial operation would cease at the airport if no buyer was found, although it would still be able to run private flights"

I would think even private flights would cease once the airport land is sold off if they can't find a buyer to operate the site as an airport. What is clear is Balfour Beatty who own the airport have had little success at operating any of the airports they acquired.

 

[beesa71]

Nothing to do with potential closure, that would be very sad.

The Shuttleworth Avro Anson (Avro Nineteen) is said to have been at Blackpool and departed yesterday morning at approximately 11:00. I understand it arrived there last wednesday.

Does anyone know why it was there and has anyone got any pictures of it there?

Paul (aka beesa71).

 

[Aviador]

Blackpool Airport to close after 'no buyer found

Blackpool International Airport has announced it will close on 15 October after a buyer was not found.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

If you don't mind me saying, Aviador, this whole situation is entirely ludicrous. To allow it to get to that state is just the most appalling management of the situation and I think that Balfour Beatty have got a lot to answer to the people of Lancashire. To run down the company to a point where the only option they have is to announce they have 2 weeks to find a buyer or the airport will close is just unbelievable. Why didn't they put it up for sale 6 months ago?

Following the Plymouth debacle, it gives me great concern about the future of Durham Tees Valley and Humberside, among others and leads one to believe that any start up of a commercial airport in Carlisle would be nothing short of suicidal (though, admittedly, Stobart group are much more organised and have a rather more all encompassing business plan).

It is very sad that Citywing will have to shut down one of their most profitable routes and the closure could have more far reaching effects for this airline and its employees.

 

[Aviador]

Blackpool airport closure will damage economy, warns Abta

Confirmation of the closure of Blackpool airport from next week will damage the local economy at a time when the UK is “crying out” for better airport infrastructure, Abta warned.

 

[Aviador]

Blackpool closure highlights regional airports’ struggles

It highlights the need for a change in government policy on Air Passenger Duty. Passengers travelling through Blackpool airport were also paying a separate airport development tax which clearly proved ineffective at keeping the airport in business.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

It highlights the need for a change in government policy on Air Passenger Duty. Passengers travelling through Blackpool airport were also paying a separate airport development tax which clearly proved ineffective at keeping the airport in business.

Maybe there is an argument to waive APD at smaller airports, perhaps those under 3 or 5mma.

It would mean a relatively small loss of the total revenue brought in by APD.

The snag is that the Law of Unintended Consequences often intrudes when governments try to control an industry by selective taxation.

 

[Aviador]

Last-ditch talks fail to save our airport

Philip Meeson, chief executive of Jet2, had accused Balfour Beatty of being “moaners” and denied suggestions his company’s plans to cut next year’s schedule by 10 per cent contributed to its demise.

The airport company Balfour Beatty has had a long standing row with Jet2. Only last year the airport was refusing to open later than 22:00 for arriving flights.

It seems almost as if the airport company didn't ever want to operate as an airport. Perhaps Balfour Beatty should have stuck to doing what they're best at doing, building rather than running airports?

 

[pss53]

If only they'd have bought the holiday complex when it shut down to create a higher capcity airport, this would have easily florished as a decent terminal.

I feel sorry for all those in North west having to now travel as much as 2/3 hours just to get a flight.

 

[Aviador]

I agree it must be very frustrating for those who live close by. Thinking back, it doesn't seem like too long ago the airport was planning major expansion alongside the planned Las Vegas style resort that was planned. Unfortunately it failed to get government backing. I wonder if the airport was originally purchased with that in mind?

To be honest though I can't say I've been over impressed with Blackpool the last few times I've visited. I've always found it dirty, run down and desperately in need of investment. The airport situation isn't going to help the matter.

 

[Aviador]

Blackpool Airport: Tickets on sale for passenger flights

A promising development and I actually think something might come of it.

 

[jfy1999]

BAE Systems E145 G-OWTN keeps flying back and forth from Farnborough. FR24 says it is going to Blackpool, which I assume is still closed, so where is it actually going?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

BAE Systems E145 G-OWTN keeps flying back and forth from Farnborough. FR24 says it is going to Blackpool, which I assume is still closed, so where is it actually going?

It might be Walney Island (Barrow) in Cumbria.

BAE operates several daily shuttle flights to Walney Island from/to both Bristol (BRS) and Farnborough.

The usual aircraft though seems to be the Beechcraft King Air B200s.

 

[larminator21]

BAE Systems G-OWTN flies into Warton from Mon-Fri at various times.

Hope this answers your question!

 

[larminator21]

It's a daily visitor at Warton from Mon-Fri.

Hope this answers your question!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Many thanks for that larminator21 and welcome to Forums4Airports.

 

[Silvercity]

I think BLK has been taken over by Blackpool council with a view to promote airport more

 

[Jerry]

Thought the terminal had been demolished?

 

[Silvercity]

Well I'm not sure to be honest....the council have bought the airport off Balfour Beatty I think last month. If the terminal was there then I Wonder if the Isle of Man / Belfast route could be restored. Certainly now anyone from Fylde and North Lancs area have a lot more extra journey time added to their trip for that short hop across the Irish Sea as they would need to get to Liverpool or Manchester .