Free parking pulls passengers at Blackpool
BLACKPOOL International airport claims its pioneering free parking initiative is helping it to pull in more passengers.
The loss-making airport introduced free parking in January and it is now planning to extend its car park to meet demand.
Blackpool, 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.
It now has around 20 daily flights to 19 destinations in Ireland and mainland Europe. Flights were 90% full during Easter week but the airport expects passenger numbers to be down by 30% for the year, reflecting Ryanair’s decision to stop flying from Blackpool in November.
Ryanair’s flights to Dublin and Barcelona carried around 100,000 passengers a year. Carriers still operating from the airport include Jet2, Flybe and Aer Arann.
Communications manager Sue Kendrick said: “Increasing routes and passengers is the only way forward in making this airport a sustainable business for the future and we really do need and appreciate the support of all who choose to fly from Blackpool International.
“Blackpool International’s forecast for the full year 2009 shows us to be down 30% – this being due to Ryanair leaving. However when one takes into account the fact that Ryanair equated for half our traffic, if we take them out of the equation, it shows that we have actually grown our passenger base.”
Blackpool was criticised for introducing a passenger tax – or airport development fee – of £10 for every departing passenger over the age of 16 at the same time as free parking.
Ms Kendrick said it had not put travellers off using the airport, insisting that free parking made up for the fee.
Blackpool is now owned by the construction giant Balfour Beatty which bought 95% of the business in May for £14m. The remaining 5% is still held by Blackpool council.
