Blackpool Airport - viable ?

Blackpool_Rox

Blackpool_Rox

Well-known member
Just sat chilling in Munich airport heading back to Blighty chatting w my pal about Blackpool Airport.

Was it a Jet2 contract that caused financial problems for Blackpool Airport ?

Some prefer flying from Liverpool than from Manchester as it’s far less manic, smaller queues, car parking is a nightmare etc etc

It was great flying from Blackpool and with all the hassles and concerns that dog air travel these days - wouldn’t the hassle-free factor be a big reason why punters would choose to fly from Blackpool ?
 
Blackpool_Rox said:
Just sat chilling in Munich airport heading back to Blighty chatting w my pal about Blackpool Airport.

Was it a Jet2 contract that caused financial problems for Blackpool Airport ?

Some prefer flying from Liverpool than from Manchester as it’s far less manic, smaller queues, car parking is a nightmare etc etc

It was great flying from Blackpool and with all the hassles and concerns that dog air travel these days - wouldn’t the hassle-free factor be a big reason why punters would choose to fly from Blackpool ?
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If it was available and had a decent selection of destinations then I would certainly gladly pay more and significantly more to avoid Manchester.
Depending on long haul tie ups, you’d have thought a shuttle service to Heathrow or Gatwick would be well utilised too?
 
Was tried before jet2 and it cost the council rate payers millions. It ran to take landladies to Tenerife, not bringing visitors to Blackpool. No other company wanted to come in and take slots. It’s not viable to run as a tourist airport.

it’s fine as it is, it’s still being used, it’s not running at a loss, people just want this pipe dream to save 30 minutes from using other airports.
 
spider said:
Runway too short can only take 737's underpass on queensway and lengthen the runway to take a 757 minimum airport becomes profitable.
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B757’s used to operate regularly late 90’s First Choice being the airline and Air 2000 as well, the aircraft are almost obsolete now with very few airlines still operating them, modern day jets especially the new small Airbus family and Embraer family of aircraft can operate on surprisingly short length runway’s today you only have to look at London city airport which has a shorter runway by over 1,000ft from Blackpool’s yet it’s stuffed with these small jets.

Now for the Political stuff, the only way Blackpool airport will ever open up to commercial traffic again is if the good people of Blackpool ditch the Labour controlled council in next years local elections.

The Labour council who are the owners of the airport have stated time and time again the airport will not be opening up for commercial traffic.
On the other hand the the Conservative group led by Councillor Tony Williams have stated should they get into power they’ll look at every possible angle to see if they can get Blackpool airport up and running again to commercial traffic.

Let’s not forget whatever you think about him Scott Benton MP is fully behind getting the airport open again to commercial traffic but the book firmly stops at the owners of the airport the Labour controlled town council.
 
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Jaffa_The_Hut said:
B757’s used to operate regularly late 90’s First Choice being the airline the aircraft are almost obsolete now with very few airlines still operating them, modern day jets especially the new small Airbus family and Embraer family of aircraft can operate on surprisingly short length runway’s today you only have to look at London city airport which has a shorter runway by over 1,000ft from Blackpool’s yet it’s stuffed with these small jets.

Now for the Political stuff, the only way Blackpool airport will ever open up to commercial traffic again is if the good people of Blackpool ditch the Labour controlled council in next years local elections.

The Labour council who are the owners of the airport have stated time and time again the airport will not be opening up for commercial traffic.
On the other hand the the Conservative group led by Councillor Tony Williams have stated should they get into power they’ll look at every possible angle to see if they can get Blackpool airport up and running again to commercial traffic.

Let’s not forget whatever you think about him Scott Benton MP is fully behind getting the airport open again to commercial traffic but the book firmly stops at the owners of the airport the Labour controlled town council.
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How much would it cost to open the airport to commercial traffic?
 
Walthamstow_Seasider said:
How much would it cost to open the airport to commercial traffic?
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Jesus that’s a very difficult question to answer.
Some major investment would be needed wether that be from the private sector or the airlines or even Government funding as money is being made available for smaller regional airports to help with congestion at major airport's.
There would have to be a terminal built for starters that alone could cost around £20m and that’s without talking about infrastructure, ground equipment, vehicles, adequate car parking, say another £10m so there’s £30m for starters probably even more with the Covid tax.
 
I always thought that the decision by the Labour government not to award Blackpool the Supercasino rights was the reason the
airport died as a commercial passenger airport. If the bid had been successful there would have been a demand from all over Europe
to visit the resort, not just the demand from the Fylde to visit Europe. One of the reasons Las Vegas is so successful is that the Airport is right next to the strip, it would have been the same for Blackpool.
 
todayistheday said:
And if Tories get in,they will ditch the idea and Labour will be all for it.
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Could well be the case.

But when you have a pro airport Tory MP (Benton) against a Labour controlled town council it’s pretty much always a stalemate situation.

What I can reveal is there is someone interested in the background who is looking to set flights up to London, Belfast, IOM, and possibly Dublin so it’s a case of watch this space.
I think holiday flights to Spain etc are still a long way off yet if at all.
 
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Jaffa_The_Hut said:
Jesus that’s a very difficult question to answer.
Some major investment would be needed wether that be from the private sector or the airlines or even Government funding as money is being made available for smaller regional airports to help with congestion at major airport's.
There would have to be a terminal built for starters that alone could cost around £20m and that’s without talking about infrastructure, ground equipment, vehicles, adequate car parking, say another £10m so there’s £30m for starters probably even more with the Covid tax.
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It may be difficult but it needs answering before anyone can commit to the investment required whichever political party it is.

I glanced at the feasibility report for reopening the Poulton to Fleetwood railway the other week and, from memory, the cost of reinstating one train per hour was in the region of £120m, more frequent services and the costs escalate.
 
straightatthewall said:
Been tried so many times before and it clearly loses money otherwise it would stay open. Total white elephant if it was re-opened to commercial flights. I’d knock it all down and build an all-weather race course. Perfect for Blackpool
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To be honest Blackpool airport has been steadily making money the last few years now with the increase in general aviation which has increased by some 50% the last 5 years it also has very profitable Irish sea gas rig support contracts.
As for building anything on it it’s classed as a green belt area owned by both Blackpool and Fylde councils so nothing will ever be built on the airport land that why Balfour Beatty sold it as they wanted to turn it into a huge housing estate but they kept getting it knocked back so eventually gave up and sold it to the Council.
 
Josuah98 said:
Was tried before jet2 and it cost the council rate payers millions. It ran to take landladies to Tenerife, not bringing visitors to Blackpool. No other company wanted to come in and take slots. It’s not viable to run as a tourist airport.

it’s fine as it is, it’s still being used, it’s not running at a loss, people just want this pipe dream to save 30 minutes from using other airports.
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Ryanair also flew from Blackpool for a fair few years alongside Jet 2
 
So who's stupid idea was it to demolish a perfectly good 20yr old passenger terminal down & build a college building that could have gone in dozens of better locations,
That as far as I can see is not being used? #brownenvelopes?
 
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Limechase said:
So who's stupid idea was it to demolish a perfectly good 20yr old passenger terminal down & build a college building that could have gone in dozens of better locations, #brownenvelopes?
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The owners the Labour run Blackpool town council under that idiot of a leader Simon Blackburn. 🤬

Then built that white Elephant the Energy College in its place. 🤬
 
Northstandsinger said:
Could the new college not be turned into a terminal ? Saving millions ?
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It could yes but……..

The whole airfield operations are moving south side (other side of runway) over the next 10-15 years with new access roads from St Anne’s being constructed so this would cause a massive problem being located on Squires gate lane as all the hangars are disappearing and building new ones south side as part of the Enterprise zone regeneration program.
 
£70m at Teesside Airport and counting since it was bought from Peel a few years ago.

Notwithstanding Covid; that a huge amount if public money.

AirportWatch | Teeside Airport bottomless pit for council cash – given another £10 million by TVCA

Teeside Airport is to get an extra £10m from the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA), hoping to keep it afloat after Covid impacts. TVCA spent more than £40m buying the loss-making airport in 2019 following a previous election pledge by Mr Houchen to take it back from previous owner Peel. TVCA...
www.airportwatch.org.uk www.airportwatch.org.uk
 
TSSeasider said:
£70m at Teesside Airport and counting since it was bought from Peel a few years ago.

Notwithstanding Covid; that a huge amount if public money.

AirportWatch | Teeside Airport bottomless pit for council cash – given another £10 million by TVCA

Teeside Airport is to get an extra £10m from the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA), hoping to keep it afloat after Covid impacts. TVCA spent more than £40m buying the loss-making airport in 2019 following a previous election pledge by Mr Houchen to take it back from previous owner Peel. TVCA...
www.airportwatch.org.uk www.airportwatch.org.uk
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Agree all from one man’s vision drive & determination.

Step forward Ben Houchin.

Could really do with him at Blackpool. 👍
 
Jaffa_The_Hut said:
It could yes but……..

The whole airfield operations are moving south side (other side of runway) over the next 10-15 years with new access roads from St Anne’s being constructed so this would cause a massive problem being located on Squires gate lane as all the hangars are disappearing and building new ones south side as part of the Enterprise zone regeneration program.
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Jaffa the aero and boat expert. Shame he doesn't stick to that instead of football 😹
 
Blackpool_Rox said:
Just sat chilling in Munich airport heading back to Blighty chatting w my pal about Blackpool Airport.

Was it a Jet2 contract that caused financial problems for Blackpool Airport ?

Some prefer flying from Liverpool than from Manchester as it’s far less manic, smaller queues, car parking is a nightmare etc etc

It was great flying from Blackpool and with all the hassles and concerns that dog air travel these days - wouldn’t the hassle-free factor be a big reason why punters would choose to fly from Blackpool ?
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Andy. We will discuss when we meet up - in TH Hope you well. With your mural guy today
 
Jaffa_The_Hut said:
We never did find out where that reported £2.5m generated went to.
Should have gone back in the pot to develop the airport and safe guard it’s future. 🤔
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Exactly Jaffa, Airport Development Charge says it all and certainly wasn’t used or didn’t appear to for the purpose it was intended! Balfour Beatty responsible for managing an airport 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️
 
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