Blackpool Airport to close

BLACKPOOL Airport will close on October 15 with the loss of 110 directly employed staff after its owners failed to find a buyer.

It can trace its aviation roots to 1909 and has been in use as an airport since the 1930s.

But management said it had been loss-making for a number of years, despite being a base for Jet2, Aer Lingus and Citywing.

The airport’s operating company was put on the market in September and last week its owners – Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Investments and the local council which has 5% – said the last commercial flight would take off on October 15 if a buyer could not be found by October 7. Such a move would be a “devastating blow” for the town, warned chamber of commerce chief executive Babs Murphy.

In a statement the airport said: “We regret to announce that no agreement has been reached to secure the future of operations at Blackpool Airport. The airport operation has been making a loss for a number of years and unfortunately there is no option for the company other than to close. This is a very sad day for the airport which has a proud aviation history and a loyal, appreciative customer following. We would like to thank all our dedicated staff who have delivered exceptional service to passengers for many years.”

It added: “While the sales process announced at the end of August was a final attempt to secure the future of the airport, the airport’s management had spent many months prior to this announcement approaching organisations with a potential interest in the airport in an attempt to find a buyer.  

“Work is currently underway with the independent aviation businesses and tenants at the airport to understand if their operations can continue in the future. Working in partnership with the local authorities, regeneration plans are also being developed which will be designed to create future employment and sustainable economic development opportunities for Blackpool and the Fylde Coast.”

Smaller regional airports are struggling because the major airlines are not interested in expanding, the local airlines are struggling, and the low cost operators are scaling up in to primary airports.

Jet2 moved its Blackpool flights to Manchester from October 10 following the announcement that Blackpool Airport will close on October 15.

In a statement the airline, which handles nearly 80% of the airport’s 240,000 passengers, said it had decided to move early because the uncertainty around Blackpool’s future had “already led to the withdrawal of key third party facilities, without notice, that have seriously impacted on the operation of our aircraft”.

City Wing, which operates flights to Blackpool from the Isle of Man and Belfast, will stop both services for four weeks while the local council and businesses discuss ways to revive the airport. Aer Lingus will also stop its Dublin to Blackpool service.
 

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