PRESTWICK
Join Date: Nov 2010
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Driving past the airport for the first time in yonks today, I noticed a significant amount of scaffolding over several of the buildings, including the terminal, transit house and one of the outbuildings. Does anyone know whats happening? Is it routine maintenance?
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Past today. The roof appears to be rotting away. It is in some serious need of some TLC. The railway station makes no attempt to be waterproof, the carpets are soaked rotten and WHS shuts just as the only arrivals of the afternoom came through. The structure looks weatherbeaten to the point of dangerous, one can see through to the timber in places. Dreadful state, appears as if Infratil have given up pending a firesale.
Total of four Ryanairs at the terminal, two flying, with ten stored.
Total of four Ryanairs at the terminal, two flying, with ten stored.
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Edinburgh
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Not flown through PIK for about 4 years now, but even back then the station was far from weatherproof. In fact for as long as I can remember, it's been a leaky, cold station. A shame really that PIK is the only airport in Scotland which bothered to link itself to the railway, yet it barely makes use of the station, so much so that it's really not that important that it's kept in good condition.
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A great shame. A top UK airport, top Wx record. Great location. A resource going to waste. Not sure that 'Pure Dead Brilliant' is the best marketing strategy though.
Join Date: Nov 2010
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As far as i remember the station has always been pretty grim. Half painted walkway over the road (can't blame Infratil for that, but a few cans of paint would have sorted it), puddles inside, lack of shelter for waiting passengers etc, cheap nylon carpets etc. It could be a great asset for PIK, but the lack of even basic maintenance is appalling, if they want to attract more people to use rail to the airport (as is intimated in the draft master plan) then surely getting it up to speed would help.
I've previously questioned who would want to buy EDI and spend a heck of a lot of cash on improving the perceived weaknesses. But if Infratil are planning on selling Prestwick, I think they are going to be in the same boat...
I've previously questioned who would want to buy EDI and spend a heck of a lot of cash on improving the perceived weaknesses. But if Infratil are planning on selling Prestwick, I think they are going to be in the same boat...
Join Date: Jul 2011
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As far as i remember the station has always been pretty grim. Half painted walkway over the road (can't blame Infratil for that, but a few cans of paint would have sorted it), puddles inside, lack of shelter for waiting passengers etc, cheap nylon carpets etc. It could be a great asset for PIK, but the lack of even basic maintenance is appalling, if they want to attract more people to use rail to the airport (as is intimated in the draft master plan) then surely getting it up to speed would help.
As for your point about EDI. I'm sure it's going to attract a lot of interest, the busiest airport in Scotland, and with Edinburgh being a major European city for business, education and tourism, whoever owns the gateway to those markets could have something very valuable indeed!
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I'm fully aware that Infratil own the station. My point was they were not the ones that built it, that was done in the Matthew Hudson era, however they could have finished off the poor paint job.
As for EDI, please don't take it as bashing it (as certain other members may have). I agree that there will be bids for it (4 have made it through to the second round according to reuters ), it's just that the weaknesses in the pavement, that restricts the use of heavy aircraft will cost a significant amount of money to rectify (if the goal is long haul) on top of the purchase price, and that may have put bidders off. EDI is a sizable market, and the airport there is valuable to it. But that's a discussion for the edinburgh thread. Just like Glasgow is a sizable market and the airport(s) are valuable to it.
As for EDI, please don't take it as bashing it (as certain other members may have). I agree that there will be bids for it (4 have made it through to the second round according to reuters ), it's just that the weaknesses in the pavement, that restricts the use of heavy aircraft will cost a significant amount of money to rectify (if the goal is long haul) on top of the purchase price, and that may have put bidders off. EDI is a sizable market, and the airport there is valuable to it. But that's a discussion for the edinburgh thread. Just like Glasgow is a sizable market and the airport(s) are valuable to it.
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EGMH..a down, not yet out, formerly awesome airfield
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Join Date: Dec 2010
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BBC News - Prestwick airport is to be sold by New Zealand owners
BBC Scotland have finally caught up with the news. Could be a hard sell.
BBC Scotland have finally caught up with the news. Could be a hard sell.
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Nice of them to show an old picture of PIKs signage before the horrible purple thing they have currently.
I can't see many being too eager to buy it, although if someone is looking to snap up a Scottish airport then PIK will probably come with a lower price tag than EDI.
I can't see many being too eager to buy it, although if someone is looking to snap up a Scottish airport then PIK will probably come with a lower price tag than EDI.
Join Date: Nov 2010
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Buy one get one free?
All joking aside, it's going to be a tough sell. An airport in desperate need of a major refurbishment, with the main customer paying peanuts (if that) to use it. Who in their right mind will buy it? I wish PriceWaterhouseCooper the best of luck in finding a buyer...
They may need it...
All joking aside, it's going to be a tough sell. An airport in desperate need of a major refurbishment, with the main customer paying peanuts (if that) to use it. Who in their right mind will buy it? I wish PriceWaterhouseCooper the best of luck in finding a buyer...
They may need it...
Join Date: Aug 2002
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If they fail to offload the business in a year, which I suspect they will, will they continue to maintain losses or close? The business model with Ryanair being the only major passenger carrier has (I believe) never made money even in the good days. PIK profits were made on the back of cargo, now that Lufthansa, Polar, Atlas Air, Fed Ex and Singapore are all gone, they're left with a reduced Cargolux operation and the erratic Air France flights.
What would it take for someone to make money at Prestwick?
What would it take for someone to make money at Prestwick?
Join Date: Feb 2008
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What would it take for someone to make money at Prestwick?
How do you interest other airlines in the facility when GLA is only a 30 minute drive away?
The current departure lounge, even though its been enlarged in recent years, is bursting at the seems during peak times throughout the summer season. Could you imagine if any other airline started a similar sized operation from PIK, operating at similar times, it would be chaos and extremley unpleasant for any passengers.
The boarding process is a nonsense, with passengers queing right through the middle of the departure lounge. When you arrive the story doesnt bode well either. When the 6 based aircraft return around 5pm and you have potentially ~1100 passangers packed into that tiny coridor trying to clear 4 immagration desks (of which I don't think I've seen more than 2 manned at any given time) it can take over an hour to pass through (personal experience).
Finally, 2 tiny baggage carousels for 6 flights, again located in a tiny space.
So what I'm trying to say is any new buyer will have to layout a massive sum to bring the terminal up to standard. It's not minor work either its a complete extension and rethink of the departures and arrivals area. Only then, in my opinion, would other airlines see it as being a competitive alternatative for the Greater Glasgow Region.
We havn't even touched on redesigning the main aprons to accommodate more aircraft.
Sorry for the rant, but the airport could be far, far better than it is and I think it's an absolute shame its in the condition that it is.