Dunlop Heywood flying high on airports brief

MANCHESTER property consultant Dunlop Heywood has been hired by two more airports.

It has been appointed as rating advisor to the City of Derry Airport in Northern Ireland and London Ashford Airport in Kent.

The team already represents Dublin International Airport, Newcastle, Doncaster and eight others.

Managing Director Stuart Hicks, said: “Despite the economic recovery been seen in many sectors, the UK’s smaller airports were hit really hard by the recession that affected both passenger and freight numbers. Even now passenger numbers UK-wide are nowhere near pre-2008 levels.

“When aero incomes starts to decline, focus naturally shifts to non-aero income: car parking, retail and other offerings to passengers. But Dunlop Heywood has ably demonstrated that there are other alternative approaches in improving airport profitability by challenging convention. Business rates and rating valuations is one area where costs are often significant but six and seven figure savings have been made.”