Exciting news for Leeds Bradford Airport
From today's Yorkshire Post Business Section:
Quote:
An airport to be proud of
Published Date:
01 July 2008
By Bernard Ginns Business Editor
Leeds Bradford International Airport has revealed ambitious plans to introduce new medium and long-haul routes and expand passenger numbers.
Bridgepoint Capital, the private equity firm which bought the airport for £145.5m a year ago, has promised to spend £70m to improve the experience of passengers and help boost business and tourism in the region.
Tony Hallwood, the airport's new commercial and aviation development director, said plans to enhance the terminal would be made public by the end of this year in the first stage of a process to "give Yorkshire an airport it can be proud of".
He said he wants to increase the number of airport passengers from nearly three million to five million a year by 2013 and increase the number of destinations from 75 to 100.
Mr Hallwood, two months into his new job, said: "I want to see Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBIA) become one of the fastest growing regional airports in the UK so we can secure our goal of being top 10 in the next decade."
He added: "It's about putting Leeds and Bradford on the world map. A successful international airport is a great status symbol for the region."
He said business support was "critical" to the future of the airport, which is based at Yeadon, nine miles from Leeds. In his last role, as aviation development director at Bristol International Airport, he increased the number of scheduled destinations from 24 to 77 in five years which he said was achieved by working closely with the business community in south-west England.
In Yorkshire, he said he wants to collaborate with Yorkshire Forward, the IoD, the CBI and other business partners. "We want to drive more business into this fantastic region (which) will generate more employment and a higher international profile," he said.
Mr Hallwood said he would be focussing on medium to long-haul flights, hoping for a new scheduled service to the west coast of America "in the next two to three years". Within five years, he said the airport would look to introduce a scheduled service direct to Dubai. He said the Middle East could be used as a gateway for onward flights to China, Japan and Australasia.
The forthcoming 787 'Dreamliner' under development by Boeing "would bring a wider range of destinations in range from the airport". The twin-engine plane will be lighter and more fuel-efficient than previous airliners and is scheduled to enter service next year.
Mr Hallwood said: "We are talking to a range of airlines at present about the potential to introduce new routes in 2009."
Pakistan International Airlines commences its Islamabad service tomorrow. Jet2 launches its three-night shopping break to New York in November.
Like other sectors, the aviation industry has been hit by rising fuel prices. But Mr Hallwood was bullish about the future prospects for the sector.
He added: "In the end, any business is cyclical. Although oil prices are high at the present time, there will be a time when these prices look to stabilise and look to fall.
"People's desire to fly and travel remains unabated. The desire for people to take their traditional holiday and short break will continue. On the back of that, we have seen an increasing desire for overseas visitors to explore our region."
There has been criticism from elements within the region's business community about the airport and some of its staff. A correspondent to our letters page said he rated the airport among the worst four in the world, with Newark, New York, Los Angeles and London Heathrow, because of its "surly indifference to the needs of the passenger, lousy expensive food and a security regime to rival the Stazi at its worst".
In response, Mr Hallwood said: "We have new investors who are committed to spending £70m (on) improving our facilities for customers. We acknowledge we need to enhance the quality and level and choice of our facility. All we are asking for is a little patience."
He added: "We are aiming to create an airport that people in the region can feel proud of. The big development we are looking for will help us to bring passengers back to Leeds who traditionally over the last decade have decided to cross the Pennines to fly from Manchester. We are now addressing that."
Mr Hallwood would not disclose much detail on proposals for the first stage of the terminal redevelopment – "it is still very much under discussion" – other than promising investment in landside and airside facilities, including the retail and catering offerings and security services.
He said a £3m project to enhance the area outside the terminal would begin this week, which will see improvements to the drop-off and pick-up area. Mr Hallwood also said the number of long-term car parking spaces will be increased from 2,500 to more than 3,000.
Bridgepoint Capital, the European private equity firm, bought LBIA last May from five West Yorkshire local authorities in a transaction totalling £145.5m.
The company was reticent when approached for comment recently, with a spokesman saying: "We believe in backing management and letting them operate the business. They are in the best position to talk about what has happened."
Bridgepoint's profits will be generated by increased passenger numbers, said Mr Hallwood. Asked if LBIA was currently profitable, he said: "Yes it is. Our turnover is in excess of £20m."
He declined to give profit data, saying audited figures for the full financial year were not yet available.
Mr Hallwood is confident he will succeed in improving the fortunes of Leeds Bradford International Airport. "I have done it before," he said, referring to Bristol. "I can do it again."
* Last Updated: 01 July 2008 7:58 AM