Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Low Gatwick passenger number may hit price-bidders
BAA may raise less than it hoped from the sale of Gatwick after latest passenger numbers there disappointed, putting downward pressure on its valuation. A source close to one of the bidders said that BAA significantly over-estimated passenger numbers for March - which were 17.7% down on March 2008. The deadline for prospective buyers to put in bids is April 27. Gatwick is very reliant on "bucket and spade" summer charter flights. (Guardian)
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Aberdeen: North-east’s new link with Cardiff is launched
Transport links between the north-east and Wales were strengthened with the launch of a direct flight between Aberdeen and Cardiff, which will fly 6 days a week. It is the 9th route provided by Flybe and Loganair from Aberdeen. The firms became franchise partners in October. The service will operate from Sunday to Friday with fares available from £44.99. It is expected to be used bybusiness travellers, students, tourists and residents. (Press and Journal)
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Minister: “Leeds Bradford – London flights are capital idea”
The Minister for Yorkshire - Rosie Winterton MP - has welcomed the news that flights from Leeds Bradford to London will be taking off again this summer. Flybe, Europe's largest regional airline, is launching a new 3 times daily service to the capital. The airline has stepped in to reconnect Yorkshire travellers and Gatwick following rival bmi's decision in March to axe its flights to Heathrow. (Yorkshire Evening Post)
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Farnborough Airport – TAG plan ‘ignores objectors’
The owner of Farnborough has confirmed that it wants to almost double the number of aircraft using the airport. TAG Farnborough Airport has just published its completed Master Plan, with plant for the next 20 years. It is now preparing to submit a planning application to increase the limit on take-offs and landings at the airport from 28,000 to 50,000 a year. Campaigners have accused TAG of ignoring the views of local people. (Get Hampshire)
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Lydd and Manston Airports Report Losses
The latest report and accounts filed at Companies House reveal that London Ashford Airport (Lydd Airport) owned by Sheikh Fahad al Athel, employs 54 people and is losing £1.9m per annum. The larger Kent International employs 92 people and is losing £4m per annum. CAA statistics for 2008 reveal that Lydd Airport handled 1,673 passengers and Manston 11,657 passengers - both about 1% of their potential capacity. (LAAG)
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Macquarie puts Bristol International airport up for sale
Macquarie has put Bristol airport up for sale as it scrambles to raise cash. The group is understood to have sounded out potential buyers for the airport, which carried more than 6m passengers in 2008. Possible bidders include Prudential’s M&G’s infrastructure fund and Fortis, which recently bought Belfast’s George Best airport. The airport was valued at around £283m in 2006, but interested bidders are likely to offer much less now. (Sunday Times)
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Luton – Call for review of night flights
Dacorum Borough Council is calling on Luton Airport to review the number of night flights from its runway. The council hss written to the airport urging it to review its Night Noise Policy - to take effect from 1 April 2010, and says local residents are subjected to twice the number of night flights (36) than take-off from Heathrow (16). It is asking that aircraft movements do not rise above their current numbers during the night period. (BBC)
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London City Airport – Flightpath talk was blocked – claim
Havering Council has been accused of deliberately stifling criticism of controversial flightpaths over the borough. Residents were furious that the council twice delayed debate on proposals for increased flights over Hornchurch. Under the NATS plan 2 flight paths from City Airport would be re-directed over Hornchurch, and with the airport's plan to increase flights by 50% this could be 40 more flights per day over the borough. (Recorder)
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Blackpool Airport to expand car park as “demand soars” !!??
The airport plans to extend the terminal's car parks, by 500 spaces. There are currently 485 passenger parking spaces and 135 visitors spaces. There is also an overspill car park with 120 spaces. The airport, which made a pre-tax loss of £4.2m for the year to May 2008, is trying to attract passengers from other North West airports as it seeks to turn a profit. Bob Fielding, from the lcoal group ROAR said: "Airport expansion is now a thing of the past." (Gazette)
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Controversial Leeds-Bradford airport plan stays grounded
Plans for a £28m extension at the terminal have been scuppered for the time being. Councillors delayed a decision on the scheme amid concerns about the impact it could have on roads in the area after getting more than 900 letters of objection. The proposed terminal extension is part of a £70m investment programme that Bridgepoint Capital intend to carry out over the next 5 years. Panel members said they could not give the scheme their backing at this stage