Matesrates
Well-known member
Can’t the runway be extended?
-800’s have used Blackpool with weight restrictions.It's not just take off weight, it's minimum landing distance in wet conditions, so the larger versions of the 737 can't, in practice, land there, so the airport is limited to the 737-700 and Max 7 variants only.
Airbus A220 and A320 families would be more viable, the latter with reduced MTOW.
It can but would have to be at the Queensway end so a bridge would have to be built over the road due to the runway elevation so it would cost millions and who would pay for it?Can’t the runway be extended?
800's on second glance, might be just within the wet landing limits, anything larger than that can land, but only in the dry.-800’s have used Blackpool with weight restrictions.
And as I’ve said already much larger aircraft have used it again with restrictions.
Agree.800's on second glance, might be just within the wet landing limits, anything larger than that can land, but only in the dry.
I think the bigger problem is passenger numbers, the estimates I've seen (Googled, anyway), suggest 1.2m is the break-even point for an airport, and I don't see where that's going to come from.
It dropped off to ~250,000 from 2009 onwards once Ryanair pulled out.Agree.
In its heyday back in 2011 the most passengers ever handled was just shy of 600,000 it averaged 400,000-500,000 for a number of years with Ryanair and Jet2 until it closed in Oct 2014.
It would've been losing money regardless of the contracts due to capacity, and if the contracts really were any more shocking than elsewhere, then it would've been because all the negotiating power belonged to the airlines due to the lack of other users.Stats have always shown a million+ people would have to use it just to break even.
As we were told at Wednesdays meeting even packed holiday flights the airport was loosing between £2-£3m annually due entirely to shocking contracts that existed which saw all the profits go to the airlines not the airport.
According to the MD this year is the first year in decades the airport will actually show a small profit.It dropped off to ~250,000 from 2009 onwards once Ryanair pulled out.
It would've been losing money regardless of the contracts due to capacity, and if the contracts really were any more shocking than elsewhere, then it would've been because all the negotiating power belonged to the airlines due to the lack of other users.
Shame - Leeds Bradford runway uses a bridge over main road. As you say though, the cost these days would be extortionate.It can but would have to be at the Queensway end so a bridge would have to be built over the road due to the runway elevation so it would cost millions and who would pay for it?
It’s a startAccording to the MD this year is the first year in decades the airport will actually show a small profit.
Or a tunnelIt can but would have to be at the Queensway end so a bridge would have to be built over the road due to the runway elevation so it would cost millions and who would pay for it?
Hopefully a few flights to BelfastYer my teasing is over just wanted to give time to Lewis_Winthorpe to retract his statement obviously he thinks he knows better.
Was at a meeting yesterday at the airport with the airports MD and a few others and the news is very encouraging indeed.
A new air terminal is being built starts next week and it will be complete by end of year or Jan 2024.
It’s only a small single story building (for now) but considering the airport hasn’t had a terminal for over 8 years years it’s a 100% improvement.
An airline (nameless for now) is onboard to start up scheduled services next year and although to be finalised yet routes to Isle of Man/Belfast and possibly Dublin will be the priority and “if” successful the airline would consider other routes including European ones.
3 x new 20,000 square feet hangars are going to be built for a new business enterprise which includes aircraft maintenance/overhaul and aircraft salvage an American company (nameless for now) is looking at Blackpool airport as a future European hub for such work.
New control tower going up as is a new fire station and a new fuel facility will be built also a brand new aircraft training college is going to be built alongside the existing energy college.
There are no current plans for holiday flights returning for the foreseeable as it’s all based on cost and Blackpool airport was loosing £2-£3m on these flights even though they were pretty much full on every flight.
It’s a 10 year plan in 3 development phases but like I said things are starting as early as next week with the new air terminal building starting.
A brand new access road will be going in off squires gate lane.
If it all goes to plan up to 120 jobs could be created in the aircraft maintenance/repair sector alone.
Jaffa, the whole scenario has changed since I was a Customs Officer.Do you want one last go Dave I can put a good word in for you?
Just think Dave you’ll never get to body search Elton John again in the way you did at Luton Airport.Jaffa, the whole scenario has changed since I was a Customs Officer.
I probably wouldn't know how to do the job now. (Even if I did then ).
I was never in VAT and only briefly in Excise.
Mainly after aty airports.
Loved it.
I remeber one quite well known TV actress I pulled over in Departure Controls. Had a little Cannabis on her.Just think Dave you’ll never get to body search Elton John again in the way you did at Luton Airport.
Have Blackpool Council bought his failed Virgin Orbit space company out of administration?Its going to be home to the new Lancashire Space Port.
Richard Branson was in town last month
Across the prom into the sea? A new pier perhaps?Can’t the runway be extended?
You like a little wager on it?There is no way Blackpool Airport will open to commercial passengers again.
And Surprise surprise the same owners who closed Blackpool airport closed Doncaster.Well there was the excellent Robin Hood Airport near Doncaster. Closed in November last year because they deemed it financially unviable. It had a long runway, modern terminal (opened in 2005), excellent transport links, a variety of destinations and up to 1.4m users per year (it has a good catchment area). They are struggling to re-open it. It will be interesting to see if Blackpool can recover when it hasn't as many advantages to draw on.
Yer my teasing is over just wanted to give time to Lewis_Winthorpe to retract his statement obviously he thinks he knows better.
Was at a meeting yesterday at the airport with the airports MD and a few others and the news is very encouraging indeed.
A new air terminal is being built starts next week and it will be complete by end of year or Jan 2024.
It’s only a small single story building (for now) but considering the airport hasn’t had a terminal for over 8 years years it’s a 100% improvement.
An airline (nameless for now) is onboard to start up scheduled services next year and although to be finalised yet routes to Isle of Man/Belfast and possibly Dublin will be the priority and “if” successful the airline would consider other routes including European ones.
3 x new 20,000 square feet hangars are going to be built for a new business enterprise which includes aircraft maintenance/overhaul and aircraft salvage an American company (nameless for now) is looking at Blackpool airport as a future European hub for such work.
New control tower going up as is a new fire station and a new fuel facility will be built also a brand new aircraft training college is going to be built alongside the existing energy college.
There are no current plans for holiday flights returning for the foreseeable as it’s all based on cost and Blackpool airport was loosing £2-£3m on these flights even though they were pretty much full on every flight.
It’s a 10 year plan in 3 development phases but like I said things are starting as early as next week with the new air terminal building starting.
A brand new access road will be going in off squires gate lane.
If it all goes to plan up to 120 jobs could be created in the aircraft maintenance/repair sector alone.
How do you think it would be financially viable, with a relatively small number of passengers using it?You like a little wager on it?
Lorraine Chase eh Dave….what a naughty lassI remeber one quite well known TV actress I pulled over in Departure Controls. Had a little Cannabis on her.
Needless to say, she missed her flight and her home, in London area, was searched. (not by me )
Can't name her for obvious reasons.
I'm talking 1980s,.
No, doesn’t need to be. The pilots just need to brake a bit harderCan’t the runway be extended?
Scheduled airlines make the money not the charter flights that’s why Blackpool was losing money last time around even though most flights were taking off full.How do you think it would be financially viable, with a relatively small number of passengers using it?
Blood, did I say Lorraine Chase??Lorraine Chase eh Dave….what a naughty lass
Southend is closing: Doncaster with almost 2.5m passengers closed last year; Carlisle is now closed; Teesside gets 150,000 passengers a year and each tax payer locally is subsidising travellers. Liverpool has a lot fewer flights; Gatwick is a complete mess; Prestwick is now down to a max of 4 flights a day outbound. Why should the tax payer of Blackpool pay for this. Its an ego trip. There is a train to Manchester Airport.I think flights to Southend would be perfect and would benefit both airports
Well obviously if I could fly to Europe from Blackpool, I would, as I imagine would everyone who lives on the Fylde Coast and probably Morecambe and Lancaster. Whether that’s enough, I’ve no idea.
You’re probably right, but I just can’t see the attraction of flying to the IOM and BelfastEurope flights are never going to be viable and nobody is going to invest in them as things stand. Flights to IOM and Belfast can work though.
My local airport in Donegal is a similar size and operates with only daily flights to Dublin and seasonal flights to Glasgow and it just about gets by but provides a necessary and vital transport link.
But then, why would the owners want to operate passenger flights at a loss, even if there was sufficient freight traffic to subsidize it?I think it needs freight to become viable and then that may be able to subsidise passenger flights in the short term anyway.
100% agree. It'll never be viable playing at passenger flights. It will have to go sort of all in and yeah, that probably depends on Liverpool becoming full. If it goes for these flights with limited destinations it won't succeed. People will come and see how easy it is to use for the first time, but they aren't likely to choose a destination because The Air Balloon does nice soup and it's only a short walk.But then, why would the owners want to operate passenger flights at a loss, even if there was sufficient freight traffic to subsidize it?
The only way I see it being viable is if Liverpool starts to reach the limits of its capacity, and the operators decide to move perhaps the UK and Ireland services from there, and I see no sign of that being likely to happen.
Don’t know how accurate the rest of what you say is but Southend isn’t closing. New routes have been announced this week and other new routes started over the summer.Southend is closing: Doncaster with almost 2.5m passengers closed last year; Carlisle is now closed; Teesside gets 150,000 passengers a year and each tax payer locally is subsidising travellers. Liverpool has a lot fewer flights; Gatwick is a complete mess; Prestwick is now down to a max of 4 flights a day outbound. Why should the tax payer of Blackpool pay for this. Its an ego trip. There is a train to Manchester Airport.
That may be the case for Donegal, but Blackpool to Manchester is 45 minutes by motorway or train, with links to the rest of the world. As such, its not such a vital transport link.Europe flights are never going to be viable and nobody is going to invest in them as things stand. Flights to IOM and Belfast can work though.
My local airport in Donegal is a similar size and operates with only daily flights to Dublin and seasonal flights to Glasgow and it just about gets by but provides a necessary and vital transport link.
Is it still up for sale?Don’t know how accurate the rest of what you say is but Southend isn’t closing. New routes have been announced this week and other new routes started over the summer.
Yes I think soIs it still up for sale?
Carlisle has been closed for over 2 years.Southend is closing: Doncaster with almost 2.5m passengers closed last year; Carlisle is now closed; Teesside gets 150,000 passengers a year and each tax payer locally is subsidising travellers. Liverpool has a lot fewer flights; Gatwick is a complete mess; Prestwick is now down to a max of 4 flights a day outbound. Why should the tax payer of Blackpool pay for this. Its an ego trip. There is a train to Manchester Airport.
The news mentioned earlier by me has already been released to the voice magazine who did an interview with Steve Peters the airports MD.Still no announcement. Has the work started on new terminal building?