PRESTWICK

[honest man]

I believe the Air France B744F that went tech yesterday is now in the former Polar hangar being worked on

[tartan 201]

Ryanair one would guess would be paying what for them would be a premium to be in EDI. Amusing in that they bleat and squeal about charges in many places, but when it suits them they quietly pay. I doubt that they would be willing to pay a premium at GLA when they don't need to because they fly from PIK. Hence they would seek large reductions in charges, so why would BA, BMI, Easyjet, Flybe et all, sit and watch that happen ?

PIK3141 - I think you're spot-on based on page 51 of this in which Ryanair states "essentially BAA offered us [FR] the same deal at Glasgow International that we have negotiated in Edinburgh, which we would not regard as successful at all". From that we can conclude:
a) they pay a relatively (for them) high charge at Edinburgh, which they're presumably happy to do based in part on the higher yields on offer there given its strength as an inbound tourist destination.
b) that same deal's on offer at Glasgow, but that's not attractive enough to them and so a greater discount would be required to entice them. Doing so would lead to the issues with Easyjet etc to which you refer.

Ryanair are building an extension to the existing hanagar or a complete new hangar at PIK. The job of constuction site manager for hangar was advertised and closed 2 weeks ago. The extension is a new bay for 3rd aircraft to park nose in, currently the hangar has space for 2 nose in.

Apron Alpha - do you have a link to this advertisement by any chance? I can find this job advert for a construction site manager for new Ryanair hangars, but it doesn't say where the job's to be located. It merely says "Presently we have 3 facilities Dublin, Stansted and Glasgow Prestwick, due to the requirement for increased hangar capacity, Ryanair are in the process of choosing several sites throughout Europe to build hangars on a D&B process to fulfil this increase." Is it certain that Prestwick is to be one of these sites? Talking of hangars any prospect of a new tenant for the old Polar Hangar?

[BALLSOUT]

Not only is the Ryanair hangar at PIK the one they are about to extend, one of the new bays is designed to take a wide body aircraft, 787 anybody?
No way will they be leaving PIK any time soon!
Ryanair use the Polar hangar for overspill work just now.

[apron alpha]

not sure on the size of the extension and for what size of aircraft, long haul aircraft based at PIK soon? The change in strategy at PIK to sunshine destinations should see PIK back to growth 2010, steady growth path, hopefully

[BALLSOUT]

I'm not saying there will be long haul aircraft based at PIK any time soon. PIK is the main heavy engineering facility for the whole Ryanair network, so they fix aircraft at PIK for all the bases. There must be something at least at the thinking stage though, for them to spend money on making space for anything bigger than the 800.

[apron alpha]

damage on the air france aircraft is reverse thrust flaps have been struck by something, enough to ground the aircraft, small damage spread across starboard wing. no emergency was declared by pilot no fire service attendance

[Skipness One Echo]

Why not just lease the old Polar hangar? Or at least take the titles down. Typical PIK. They still had a Wardair check in desk for years after they left. If the Ryanair hangar is so crucial then why doesn't it have massive RYANAIR titles as per Stansted? I wonder do we have a link to the text which suggests a larger type than the B73H?

[BALLSOUT]

skipness, It wouldn't suit FR to use the polar hangar long term, their hangars are purpose built especialy for the 800. That's why it is so intereting that they are building something bigger! The extension is for the 800's as I said, but with one larger bay???

[Skipness One Echo]

Link? In which direction is the extension going? Seems odd that building a new bay is cheaper than the big empty hangar next door.

[apron alpha]

the hangar is to be built east side of hangar apron papa side, where the 2 mounds of dirt are, i dnt know the size, or if its only for 800s, air france departed last nite, hangar empty again! no news of any new tennants yet. is the polar lease up yet?

[BALLSOUT]

Polar gave the lease up last year when they left PIK, the hangar is now in the hands of the airport.

[honest man]

Its on the airport website in the property section as up for lease

[apron alpha]

ground services using it to store some equipment during the bad weather, apart from that its empty, hopefully somebody will lease it out and generate some extra revenue

[racedo]

Seems odd that building a new bay is cheaper than the big empty hangar next door.

Capital Investment minimises amount of tax paid and potentially some grants available as well.

[honest man]

I hear theres a 146 in it just now possibly the weather example

[apron alpha]

apparently, last year globespan were looking at it for maintenance base, how much truth in that there is i dnt know, its a superb hangar for somebody.

[apron alpha]

great to see the 3 british airways 777s at prestwick today! took up the whole of the main apron, ryanairs relegated to apron bravo! good to hear the "speed bird" call sign, PIK has signed a deal to be used as BA diversion airport, hopefully a lot more in the future!

[Jamezon]

Not sure how to quote Apron Alpha's post? But the new hangar is a "3 bay maintenance facility". The implication being a new build.

[peterc]

Yep its G-LUXE we are going to be in PIK until 02nd Feb , doing weather research.

[apron alpha]

ground works are going to start soon, so then il be able to give a report on the size of the hangar, i was told it was going to be extension for one extra 800, meaning the space in total is for 3 800s inside, If its a new build for 3 800s, is that then space for 5 in total? like i said earlier, i will be able to report as it goes up.