As far as Pax are concerned I think - YES - BOH have completely missed the boat with a total lack of new airlines jumping on-board and staying with it for more than 5 minutes! I don't think the airport will ever crack a million passengers again let alone the three million that they had hoped to attract having spent around 45 million pounds on improvements over the past few years. With pax number expected to be around 700,000 this year, the loss of Flybe after just "dipping" their toes in for such a short space of time, will no doubt focus minds of airport bosses. Would anyone dare to predict what might happen next? with quotes like this at the end of July:-
Passenger numbers to rise 50% at Bournemouth airport, say Manchester Airports Group as annual results released!
PASSENGER numbers at Bournemouth Airport could significantly rise this winter thanks to a number of new flights.
Paul Knight, managing director, Bournemouth Airport, said: “These additional routes are great news for the airport and I am delighted that we are able to offer our passengers a growing choice of flight and holiday options this winter.”
Airport bosses are predicting the number of passengers will increase by 50 per cent, as more than 55 flights a week to 14 destinations are scheduled.
Reaffirming their commitment to Bournemouth, the MAG report said: "Bournemouth Airport continues to be an important contributor to the group and following the news earlier this year that Flybe is relocating its southern base to the airport and adding 10 new routes, passenger numbers will significantly increase in 2015-16."
With this news released just four months ago, you really do have to wonder what planet BOH management and MAG are on!? However it's all about the huge industrial Estate on the North side isn't it!? Now that's another story! Huge lorries in and out all day long etc - but still no link to the A338 Spur Road. Don't worry though Hurn Village and Parley Cross can cope!!! RIGHT???
Does anybody care to guess which Airline might attempt to run new routes out of BOH next and how about a sweep-stake as to the next time the airport might hit one million PAX!
Did MAG really not see this Flybe bombshell coming??? Perhaps they should open their eyes next time? It all smacks of desperation after all the money that's been spent!
Finally - going all the way back to 2007 when the huge expansion was announced - this is what was said:-
In 2007, the airport's owners, Manchester Airports Group, announced a £32 million investment (Increased to £45 million) in the redevelopment of the airport which mainly focused on creating new car parking spaces in two separate car parks and building a new International Arrivals terminal. Part of these plans included screening off the current arrivals terminal with a three-metre screen, with plans to ultimately phase out use of the building. On 21 June 2007, planning permission was granted to the scheme by Christchurch Council Planning Committee, despite public objections and protests. This was conditional, however, on a maximum of three million air passengers per annum, and required contributions to road systems, bus routes, and to use quieter aircraft
Last edited by mrshubigbus; 18th Nov 2015 at 08:33.