Deadline day for Blackpool Airport

A STATEMENT on the future of loss-making Blackpool Airport is expected later today.

Last week it 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, according to chamber of commerce chief executive Babs Murphy.

And Jet2, one of the airport’s main operators, said it was “surprised” by the news.

Last month Regional & City Investments (Blackpool) – owned by Balfour Beaty Infrastructure Investments and the local council which has 5% – hired Zolfo Cooper to handle the sale of the operating company, Blackpool Airport Limited (BAL).

BAL holds the operating licence from the Civil Aviation Authority to run the airport which had around 260,000 travellers last year.

Blackpool has three scheduled airlines as well as occasional charter holiday flights in the summer. The largest operator is Jet2, which flies to 13 destinations.

David Bentley, who runs Oldham-based aviation consultancy Big Pond Aviation, previously told TheBusinessDesk.com that the only likely bidder would be the Stratford-based Rigby Group which has bought Coventry Airport and bought into Balfour Beatty’s airport in Exeter.