Liquidators appointed to Blackpool Airport

ZOLFO Cooper has been appointed as liquidator of Blackpool Airport’s operating company.

The accountancy group was also handling the proposed sale of Blackpool Airport Limited, on behalf of owner Balfour Beatty, and failed to find a buyer.

As a result the facility closed on Wednesday with the loss of 110 jobs, although Blackpool Council said it is still working on a plan that could keep aviation in the town.

On Tuesday Cllr John Jones, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, blamed the airport’s failure on an “extremely onerous” contract with the airline Jet2.

But he also conceded that “more could have been done” by the operators to bring in new routes and airlines.

Nick Cropper, partner at Zolfo Cooper, said: “It is with regret that we have had to close the business. The company’s business model relied on reaching approximately 500,000 passengers per annum to achieve break-even.

“However, as a result of the global economic downturn, competition from other airports in North West England and the loss of a key customer, these numbers have not been achieved and have remained at or around 250,000 per annum. We have worked hard alongside the management team to try to find a buyer for the business, but sadly no credible offers have been received.”