Stobart Air at Carlisle

[Humberside]

Stobart Air have applied to the regional air connectivity fund for support for their new Carlisle operations that have previously been proposed in connection with the airport's redevelopment. Routes to Belfast, Dublin and Southend from 1st April 2016 have been proposed

www.gov.uk/government/news/19-new-regional-air-routes-bid-for-start-up-aid-funding
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/418094/start-up-aid-applications-received.pdf

[Humberside]

The Carlisle routes have been shortlisted for funding
www.gov.uk/government/news/shortlist-for-new-regional-air-route-funding-announced

[Humberside]

www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/business/summer-hope-for-carlisle-airport-passenger-flights-1.1229404

Scheduled passenger flights from Carlisle Airport could start next summer, Stobart Group chief executive Andrew Tinkler believes.

The company, which owns the airport, revealed in its interim results last week that it was considering making runway improvements in readiness for passenger flights. But take-off is likely to hinge on a government subsidy being approved.

Ministers announced in August that routes from Carlisle to London Southend, Dublin and Belfast are among 15 shortlisted to get funding from a £56m pot to support new services from smaller regional airports.

To secure the money, Stobart Air will have to convince the Department for Transport that the routes will be viable once the three-year subsidy ends.

Mr Tinkler said: “We believe it is do-able and makes commercial sense.

“But we have to make it sustainable and it takes time to build passenger numbers on a new route.

“That [government] support in the first two or three years is vital.”

He revealed that Stobart is in discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority about works to upgrade the runway and the installation of an instrument landing system.

The company expects to spend between £3m and £4m on the project – more if it opts to move the passenger terminal into a corner of the new freight distribution centre at Carlisle Airport. This would allow direct access to the terminal from the A689.

Mr Tinkler said: “Once we get the go ahead, the works could be completed in two to three months.

“Summer 2016 isn’t out of the question for starting flights.

“It would do a lot for the area by encouraging inward investment, especially with what’s going on in the nuclear industry in west Cumbria.”

The plan is for Stobart Air to offer two return flights daily to London Southend Airport, which is also owned by Stobart Group.

From there, a direct rail link takes passengers to central London in under an hour.

Flights would be timed to allow business people and tourists to spend a full day in London.

There would also be one flight each day from Carlisle to Belfast and Dublin, the latter with onward connections to the United States.

[kirmingtonuser]

It appears that Stobart have been successful in their applications for the Southend, Belfast and Dublin routes.

[Thames Gateway]

That should be good news in theory.
Of course it means that the Carlisle runway will now have to be paid to be re-surfaced (another piece of work for Stobart Rail I would think), and if Stobart Air are to operate the flights in their own name, they will need to develop their own on-line booking engine capability, which they have not had since the Aer Arann routes were put into the Aer Lingus Regional brand. Maybe they will do the same with these?

[Thames Gateway]

Development with ATC jobs advertised on the Liverpool airport site for Carlisle airport. I thought that the ATC was done in-house by Stobart?

ATCO

SATCO

[Thames Gateway]

Why LHR 3rd runway may be good for CAX?

[Thames Gateway]

At present, airport closed until 21st August (due COVID-19); one can only hope that is amended!

Q) EGTT/QFALC/IV/NBO/A/000/999/5456N00249W005
B) FROM: 20/05/20 00:00C) TO: 20/08/20 23:59
E) COVID-19: INFORMATION
AERODROME CLOSED
NOTAM L2526/20

At present there is no mention anywhere of any LOG or scheduled flights re-starting at all.
Where does that leave the airport then?
Why can't light aircraft & G/A visit at present (within the social distancing requirements)?

[Humberside]

A couple of Carlisle notes from Stobart's annual results:

Non-Strategic Infrastructure
Stobart Group owns Carlisle Lake District Airport and a number of brownfield development properties across the UK. Stobart
Group will realise value from its property assets in the next three years.
As at 29 February 2020 , the book value of Infrastructure assets held is £47.3m (2019: £82.6m) following write downs
and disposals

Carlisle Lake District Airport (CLDA) commenced commercial operations in July 2019 with regional airline Loganair. Whilst recognising
the importance of regional connectivity and in particular the Northern Powerhouse project's support in enabling us to open the
airport, the administration of Connect Airways had led us to recognise the likely importance of the land ownership as opposed to the
commercial aviation opportunities at CLDA, which resulted in a write down of £21.0m.

polaris.brighterir.com/public/stobart_plc/news/rns/story/r73eovx/export

[Thames Gateway]

Sign of the times at the airport: www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/18794890.stobart-confirm-job-losses-carlisle-lake-district-airport/

Hope those losing their jobs can find something else quickly.

[Thames Gateway]

Thread may be of interest to some on PPrune: www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/635885-bae-146-carlisle.html
(AH please remove if you think link inappopriate).

[Humberside]

Possible 'revival'
www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/20584624.plans-lake-district-airport-revealed/

PLANS have been revealed for the future of the Lake District Airport, which has lain dormant since early 2020.

A spokesperson from Esken, formerly known as Stobart Group Limited, has said the 'short to medium term strategy' is to get planes back up in the air as the business looks to recover from the fallout associated with the pandemic.

The Esken group has also indicated that the airport, situated five miles north of Carlisle, will be assessing potential avenues in using the premise to also include military aviation and business jets, as well as ambitions to become a hub for air freight transportation - using the airport as a gateway to utilise pre-existing Esken links at London Southend Airport for northern England and Scotland.

Charlie Geller, communications director at Esken, said: "The company’s short to medium term strategy is to get the airport operational again following the period of inactivity associated with the pandemic, which has had a significant impact on the UK’s aviation sector.

"Once operational with general aviation, we will explore opportunities including business jet, military and other general aviation.

"Building upon the strong logistics history of Esken and our freight operations at London Southend Airport, the company is additionally exploring opportunities to develop the airport as an air freight hub for a gateway to northern England and Scotland.

A seasonal search and rescue base was announced last week