Blackpool’s problem is a lack of population in its catchment area. Zoom out using Google maps satellite imagery will reveal that northeast of Blackpool is barren of any towns. That just leaves a narrow corridor of towns to the east of Preston with most of the population living south of Preston who would look to Manchester or Liverpool to fly from. Can’t see how Blackpool will ever overcome this problem.
Although dwarfed by Manchester - Blackpool has a large enough catchment area to keep a regional airport busy, that is properly managed and in a decent economic climate.
I know Google maps are handy - but hardly intended to forecast the future of an airport.
Small population?. Preston and North and Central Lancashire of course including Blackpool and the Fylde. The Lake district and East Lancashre are in the Blackpool catchment area - Possible people in Blackburn. Nelson, Rossendale et al may need persuading that Blackpool offers that something Manchester does not. Ease of use for example.
When this recession ends - Airports like BLK and SEN will manage and even flourish - Come downturns, they are the first to feel the pinch.
Off hand BLK seem to have little competition as a regional airport - I have not done a count - But I am sure there are quite a few regional airports along the South coast..
Quote: "Small population?. Preston and North and Central Lancashire of course including Blackpool and the Fylde. The Lake district and East Lancashre are in the Blackpool catchment area - Possible people in Blackburn. Nelson, Rossendale et al may need persuading that Blackpool offers that something Manchester does not. Ease of use for example."
Exactly right, Ernest Lanc's, same as SEN, it's the convenience factor of small regional airports that are their unique selling points, although the range of destinations are limited.
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"When this recession ends - Airports like BLK and SEN will manage and even flourish - Come downturns, they are the first to feel the pinch."
Always the way it happens.
Quote: "Off hand BLK seem to have little competition as a regional airport - I have not done a count - But I am sure there are quite a few regional airports along the South coast.. "
On the south coast there are SOU and BOH. SOU is busier than BOH, but both co-exist despite the proximity (about 30 mi. or so). LHR is about as far from these as MAN is from BLK, with similar motorway links.
Further west is EXT, which was near PLH (about 45 mi.) but, regretably, PLH did not survive.
Again, these have smallish catchment areas, but enough to sustain a small regional airport (just like BLK).
Small regional airports can work well, but they do need selling, both to potential carriers and to potential pax.
I agree with the tone and expectations of regional airports in your post.
BLK will never be a threat to MAN..to be honest as the North Wests premier airport - I wish Manchester to prosper.
But choice is a great thing in any business - I like to travel from BLK because the ease of use suites me...If I can't travel from BLK because they don't fly my route, then I happily use Manchester of Liverpool..(The latter it seems are suffering at the moment with FR pulling/or cutting frequency on certain routes).
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Further west is EXT, which was near PLH (about 45 mi.) but, regretably, PLH did not survive.
Again, these have smallish catchment areas, but enough to sustain a small regional airport (just like BLK).
Yes a shame about PLH - Shows maybe to much regional airport competition in that neck of the woods.
Small airports like BLK are niche airports to a degree - Many uses of BLK own second homes on the Costas, Jet2 holidays in the future may alter the balance.
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Small regional airports can work well, but they do need selling, both to potential carriers and to potential pax.
Probably the most important point - While jet2 have sold their airline and holidays, there has been a deafening silence from BLK..Rather than selling the point that Jet2, Aer Lingus and Manx2 are here and well at Blackpool.
The future of BLK and airports like SEN are safe, subject to the goodwill of their owners in wanting them to survive as airports.
Quote: "BLK will never be a threat to MAN..to be honest as the North Wests premier airport - I wish Manchester to prosper.
But choice is a great thing in any business - I like to travel from BLK because the ease of use suites me...If I can't travel from BLK because they don't fly my route, then I happily use Manchester of Liverpool..(The latter it seems are suffering at the moment with FR pulling/or cutting frequency on certain routes)."
Agree Ernest Lanc's, let's have as many regional airports as is sustainable, Let's have as much convenience as possible for as many air pax as possible. Choice and convenience are the watch-words.
Regional airports also have a part to play in addressing lack of transport capacity in the UK such as the congested highway and mainline networks, and are as expansion at the larger airports, especially LHR. It's not a case of "either/or" but "both".
Quote: "The future of BLK and airports like SEN are safe, subject to the goodwill of their owners in wanting them to survive as airports."
The goodwill of the owners is critical, it may be a lack of this that did for PLH. MME could be in similar danger.
You have to wonder what BB's intentions are for Blackpool. How much input do they have to the airport, or do they just leave it to run itself?
I have a copy of the Annual report for the year ended 31 December 2010. The airport made a huge loss on only £7.1M sales. The loss was £3.6M (pre tax). That is ridiculous.
in the accounts:
In other words Balfour Betty have them by the balls. The airport simply doesn't bring in enough money to pay for itself, so the losses will continue until massive changes are made. If Balfour Betty get bored and decide they want to build on the land, all they need to do is liquidate the company.
This bit is daft, staff costs were £3.6M. That is a huge 50% wages to sales ratio. That cannot continue. 157 staff in total. I know these figures are from 2010, but how much has really changed?
The next set of reports will be interesting. The future looks bland.
Mrs IB returned from Blackpool last night. On the positive side, the ladies loos have been refurbished and a new carpet has been laid in the departure lounge. However, the requirement to show passports is over the top, as are the settings on the security scan arches. Seems it could be an exercise to discourage passengers from using the airport. Passports had to be shown at bag drop, entry to the security area, at the departure gate and on boarding the aircraft. The security machines are activated by hairgrips, earings and bracelets.
Also there are rumours circulating that when the present agreement between the airport and Jet2 expires, the airport will not enter into a new agreement unless the reduced hours of operation, which they sought to impose on Jet2 and lost in court, are part of any new agreement.
However, the requirement to show passports is over the top, as are the settings on the security scan arches. Seems it could be an exercise to discourage passengers from using the airport. Passports had to be shown at bag drop, entry to the security area, at the departure gate and on boarding the aircraft. The security machines are activated by hairgrips, earings and bracelets.
I bet transit times through the terminal were times that Manchester could only dream of
the requirement to show passports is over the top, as are the settings on the security scan arches. Seems it could be an exercise to discourage passengers from using the airport. Passports had to be shown at bag drop, entry to the security area, at the departure gate and on boarding the aircraft. The security machines are activated by hairgrips, earings and bracelets.
IB4138: What's new..I and my family have shown our passports at bag drop, entry to the security area, always has been at the departure gate, and on boarding the aircraft...can't see what your point on that is.
As for the scan arches - That's a beef with other airports also, Liverpool springs to mind. In one form or another.
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Also there are rumours circulating that when the present agreement between the airport and Jet2 expires, the airport will not enter into a new agreement unless the reduced hours of operation, which they sought to impose on Jet2 and lost in court, are part of any new agreement.
Jet 2 have changes landing times....I am flying out to Alicante in July from MAN because I don't care for the early flight from BLK - I am flying back into BLK, because the landing time in BLK is in the afternoon.
Palma has always been late, And Malaga used to be - Not sure if Malaga has changed or not. Yes the negative "rumours" concerning BLK are back.
Mattastic. You are citing 2010 - frequency has been cut since then, savings have been made so 2011 is yet unknown..
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In other words Balfour Betty have them by the balls. The airport simply doesn't bring in enough money to pay for itself, so the losses will continue until massive changes are made. If Balfour Betty get bored and decide they want to build on the land, all they need to do is liquidate the company.
What changes can be made?..Doubling the EDF and re-charging for car parking maybe.
Nothing much can change until the mood in the country changes - Liverpool are having problems with their much larger catchment area,,It's a matter of waiting until people feel confident to travel abroad more i greater numbers - BB know this as does Jet2 - One 2010 balance sheet make look bland, better than bleak. LTNman
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I bet transit times through the terminal were times that Manchester could only dream of
To true - Flying into MAN late at night (Terminal 1) is not to be recomended.
Last edited by Ernest Lanc's; 13th May 2012 at 11:12.
What changes can be made?..Doubling the EDF and re-charging for car parking maybe.
Only if the ticket machine at the car park is repaired/replaced. The barrier has been locked in the "up" position for at least the last three months. Car parking is free to all, so the "ADF free parking offer for up to 14 days" is a nonentity! Weeds are also taking over the car park.
I thought passports were only usually shown at the baggage drop (if you needed to go there) and at the departure gate. I can't see what use they would be to security. I'd have thought all they would need is a boarding card, and you would not need one anyway if you were travelling within the British Isles (yes, I know the airline would need some acceptable form of photo ID). Perhaps I've forgotten and am just being dozey! I am pretty certain though that I've never been asked for my passport on boarding the aircraft.
Car parking is free to all, so the "ADF free parking offer for up to 14 days" is a nonentity! Weeds are also taking over the car park.
Well being we all have to pay the ADF..It does not matter, it will be free to all. The weeds are a bit disturbing though. Like they don't care. BKS Air Transport
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I am pretty certain though that I've never been asked for my passport on boarding the aircraft.
At Blackpool, we have always had to hand in our passports at the bag drop, even though we are checked in..Again show at security and the boarding gate.
You have to have your passport open on boarding, I am 99% certain on that.
When I flew out of SEN last month the girl at the gate specifically said to everyone that they could put their passport away as they wouldn't need to show it when boarding. Perhaps it's just a SEN thing as part of their 'fly through terminal' strategy.
At Blackpool, we have always had to hand in our passports at the bag drop, even though we are checked in..Again show at security and the boarding gate.
The airport, justifying the number of staff and what they charge Jet2 for in respect of handling?
It simply is not normal at airports in the UK for all these checks.
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Well being we all have to pay the ADF..It does not matter, it will be free to all.
To still advertise it to locals as a benefit, which does not exist, proves it is the con that it always has been. Simply revenue raising to offset losses. Parking is now free to all persons at the airport, be they passengers or visitors.Think Trading Standards should take a look at this.
when i drove uptoo the barrier to get in the car park it now says please insert your passport. only kiddies. but sereusly maybe bb are trying to make the blk experience as much as a hasslehoff as they can in an attemp to drive people away.
Simply revenue raising to offset losses. Think Trading Standards should take a look at this.
This is what Blackpool Airport say they have spent ADF income on to date:
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What has the Airport Development Fee money been spent on?
The funds from the ADF have contributed to necessary infrastructure development which has included an upgrade to the taxi-way and runways, extensions to the car parks, improvements to security, new fire and operations centre and is used to develop new route opportunities and fund the free passenger parking offer.
It is difficult to think that Trading Standards would have any interest in it.
The whole transport sector in Blackpool is being run incompetently. Passengers/users are getting a bad deal.The question should be why?
Besides the airport, there are major problems/failures with the new tramway and flexitytrams and after a major overspend there, the Council are buying second hand buses from the Isle of Man, as they can't afford new ones that they need to make the fleet DDA compliant by the required date.
