Post by Humberside on Mar 4, 2010 12:53:38 GMT
www.lep.co.uk/businessnews/Edinburgh-talks-for-Blackpool-Airport.6114725.jp
The new boss of Blackpool Airport has revealed it is in talks with major airlines about bringing more routes to the Lancashire terminal.
Airport director Paul Rankin said it was looking at developing a route to Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, from the Fylde Coast, along with bringing back the daily flight to London. He said he had received constant requests from businesses for a return of the regular service after it was axed by budget airline Ryanair in 2007.
The director arrived at the Squire's Gate terminal in January following 25 years working at Bristol Airport. Mr Rankin said: "The London route is about having the right airline with the right size aircraft, if there is someone that ticks all those boxes then we have a successful route. "Ryanair did operate out of Blackpool but perhaps not as successfully as they could have done.
"We are optimistic that we will find an airline that will be able to provide a service to London in the short to medium term." He said he was talking to another airline about bringing a route to Edinburgh into the terminal and believed there would be a demand for the route.
It is thought that the flight would attract passengers for both business and leisure trips. Mr Rankin said: "We estimate that 16,000 passengers could potentially use this route each year, so it is som thing we are keen to look into."
The director's arrival follows the £14m takeover of the airport by Regional and City Airports (RCA), part of construction group Balfour Beatty, in May 2008.
He replaces David Kershaw, who stepped down from the helm after the airport introduced a new £10 airport development charge for passengers
Airport director Paul Rankin said it was looking at developing a route to Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, from the Fylde Coast, along with bringing back the daily flight to London. He said he had received constant requests from businesses for a return of the regular service after it was axed by budget airline Ryanair in 2007.
The director arrived at the Squire's Gate terminal in January following 25 years working at Bristol Airport. Mr Rankin said: "The London route is about having the right airline with the right size aircraft, if there is someone that ticks all those boxes then we have a successful route. "Ryanair did operate out of Blackpool but perhaps not as successfully as they could have done.
"We are optimistic that we will find an airline that will be able to provide a service to London in the short to medium term." He said he was talking to another airline about bringing a route to Edinburgh into the terminal and believed there would be a demand for the route.
It is thought that the flight would attract passengers for both business and leisure trips. Mr Rankin said: "We estimate that 16,000 passengers could potentially use this route each year, so it is som thing we are keen to look into."
The director's arrival follows the £14m takeover of the airport by Regional and City Airports (RCA), part of construction group Balfour Beatty, in May 2008.
He replaces David Kershaw, who stepped down from the helm after the airport introduced a new £10 airport development charge for passengers