PRESTWICK
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Irvine
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Before the decline in the economy there were plans to build on top of the current departure lounge and arrivals area and turn that into departures while the arrivals area was to be enlarged. Yes it is a tough time for Prestwick but I'm sure it will survive and flourish. Although there are some people who would be delighted if it was to close completely and all business transferred to Glasgow. While my preferred airport is Prestwick I don't have a problem with Glasgow and I certainly don't want it to close and put many people out of a job.
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Ayrshire
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I agree with comment directly above, some people would like to see Prestwick shut - selfish I think! What Prestwick needs is an owner who is actually interested in the running it properly. Grow some balls, get the terminal fixed attract new real business and prevent Ryanair from jumping in to scare the rivals away by starting the same or similar route! Prestwick flourished in the past and will again, key to this would be attracting at least one long haul, whether that be Ryanair of sorts or a rival it should be Beneficial to both the Airport and the Airline - I`d prefer a new airline operator to the airport providing a proper service! Cargo will pick up again so come on - Stop putting down our Airport..
I support all Airports in Scotland, all have their part to play in our economy.
I support all Airports in Scotland, all have their part to play in our economy.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
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I am not putting down PIK. I would struggle to find many years where PIK made money, and where it did, it did so off the back of government built infrastructure sold off at a reduced rate. Commercially, I see no one prepared to move into PIK against FR who would pay anything approaching enough money for any return to be ploughed into a rebuild of facilities.
I don't see closure of the airfield, I just can't imagine how they can maintain passenger flights from the terminal as it is for too much longer.
I don't see closure of the airfield, I just can't imagine how they can maintain passenger flights from the terminal as it is for too much longer.
May I ask what the underlying reasons are that has cause cargo operations at PIK to have declined ?
Yes, I know the economy has been lame for the last few years, but I'm guessing there's more to it than just that
Yes, I know the economy has been lame for the last few years, but I'm guessing there's more to it than just that
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LV
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As much as it is angelic to hope for the saving of local jobs- the rose tinted specs will need to come off pretty soon. PIK is a dump. Its pax days are numbered. It will survive on what little cargo and maintenance remains for a while. Therafter who knows. For an explanation on cargo- just look at the EDI cargo figures.
GLA is brimming with modern facilities and capacity- any West of Scotland pax expansion will be there and nowhere else.
Sorry state of affairs, but predictable and virtually inevitable.
GLA is brimming with modern facilities and capacity- any West of Scotland pax expansion will be there and nowhere else.
Sorry state of affairs, but predictable and virtually inevitable.
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Scotland
Age: 64
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Some bizarre comments there Cabincrewe. EDI"s cargo figures are due in the main to the big postal operation there delivered by smaller aircraft such as the 73. PIK's cargo is of the heavy duty variety via 74, 77 and AN124 freighters. Different market. PIK's terminal is very much showing its age as are terminals at BFS, CWL etc but to say GLA is brimming with modern facilities is ludicrous. I fly from GLA 2-3 times a week and whilst there are some decent upgraded areas such as the security area and the international pier, the domestic BA/FlyBe pier is well past its sell-by date and the low cost EZY pier is far more depressing than PIK"s departure lounge. It's obvious that all three of Scotland"s central belt airports need investment and hopefully this will come about through the sales that are about to happen. PIK will survive yet again and while passenger flights will always be a challenge given the competition from Abbotsinch and Turnhouse I firmly believe that aviation related activities including maintenance, ferry, tech, military flights, and cargo will grow at PIK and who knows perhaps a rebranded Robert Burns International will attract a core of low cost and charter European and transatlantic airlines in the future provided there is investment 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Scotland
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May I ask what the underlying reasons are that has cause cargo operations at PIK to have declined ?
Yes, I know the economy has been lame for the last few years, but I'm guessing there's more to it than just that
Yes, I know the economy has been lame for the last few years, but I'm guessing there's more to it than just that
Cargo volumes have increased at Edinburgh, but that's due to growth by the 'integrators' (e.g. FedEx, UPS and TNT) and Royal Mail rather than 'bulky' items which was PIK's staple diet. See para 2.7.1 of the document linked to above.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
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Historically the overwhelming flow of cargo was IN to PIK with only a fraction of cargo loaded. The facilities on the piers at GLA are fine for domestic flying, it does the job quite well I think. We're just old enough to remember when BAC111s were common at gates now used by ERJ-190s.
PIK needs rebuilt from the ground up to be fit for purpose, something that cannot happen with some return on investment. While Ryanair remains dominant, that's a dream alas. However I am not havin a go at FR as they have a business model at PIK that works well for them and I don't imagine anyone else having a go. Perhaps demolishing the old terminal and putting up a very basic loco terminal for FR along the old cargo sheds with access to the railway is an option. Even that would cost though.
PIK needs rebuilt from the ground up to be fit for purpose, something that cannot happen with some return on investment. While Ryanair remains dominant, that's a dream alas. However I am not havin a go at FR as they have a business model at PIK that works well for them and I don't imagine anyone else having a go. Perhaps demolishing the old terminal and putting up a very basic loco terminal for FR along the old cargo sheds with access to the railway is an option. Even that would cost though.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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FR as they have a business model at PIK that works well for them
Perhaps MOL would like to get off his high horse and try running an airport himself? The first 100%-Ryanairport?
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: uk
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c'mon
Can a "region" the size of the central belt really support 3 airports for passengers within 70 miles of each other? Oversupply me thinks? Would like to see it flourish on purely sentimental value but as a business I can't really see much of a future. Sorry if it's not what you want to hear.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Prestwick, Scotland
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Well lets see....GLA brimming with modern facilities...try getting there by public transport...expensive car parks...security not bad...into that duty free area you must try to walk through with everyone especially sales staff in your face...food restaurants queued out so you can't get in them...and the Easyjet pier and gates...now there's a true dump. So in comparison, Prestwick can be not all that bad. We would very much like our Ryanair to Stansted back, or a Wizz to Luton, to stop having to use expensive 1st of morning BA, or Easyjet from their dump.
Having said all that, I wouldn't assume that PIK revolves around the terminal or Ryanair. A smaller but roomier terminal could pop up in an unexpected place, and other aprons on the airfield are busier than they ever have been. Where else is the AN225 sitting at the moment loading 140 tonnes of presumably Scottish manufacturing to export to Canada ?
It all comes down to money of course, and there should be no reason on earth why a trimmed operation should not make money, just a matter of what to trim and what to build, and maybe those who want Ryanair at Glasgow could hold part of the solution !
Having said all that, I wouldn't assume that PIK revolves around the terminal or Ryanair. A smaller but roomier terminal could pop up in an unexpected place, and other aprons on the airfield are busier than they ever have been. Where else is the AN225 sitting at the moment loading 140 tonnes of presumably Scottish manufacturing to export to Canada ?
It all comes down to money of course, and there should be no reason on earth why a trimmed operation should not make money, just a matter of what to trim and what to build, and maybe those who want Ryanair at Glasgow could hold part of the solution !
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
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How does the trimmed operation make money? On a traffic level, PIK is often world class on an interest level, if not in volume. Ocean Sky and Greer excel in their respective niches, but as to passengers and the terminal, we have a problem. The infrastructure was built for the B707 / VC10 and remains unchanged since. It needs redeveloped as parts are literally falling down. The upper floor East side has lain empty for thirty years. The old Carnegie lounge area is now also abandoned. The timber on the roof is visibly rotting. It's not a spruce up that is needed soon and I suspect Infratil know this. It would cost millions to bring the facility up to date, yet I cannot forsee a business case for this.
How much would it cost to put up a minimal passenger terminal to Ryanair's liking - essentially a tin shed - that could process 2 million passengers per year ? For those that passed through it, I'm thinking something with a similiar comfort level, albeit larger capacity, like the now-closed Etiuda terminal in Warsaw or Baneasa in Romania.
Alternatively, how much to make good the current terminal so that it's structurally sound ?
I'm not thinking of the glory days of BOAC - just enough to be functional and do the basics required of a passenger terminal in a way that the airport operator can make some money (i.e. there needs to be a duty free shop) for what is likely to always be a LCC / charter airport.
Alternatively, how much to make good the current terminal so that it's structurally sound ?
I'm not thinking of the glory days of BOAC - just enough to be functional and do the basics required of a passenger terminal in a way that the airport operator can make some money (i.e. there needs to be a duty free shop) for what is likely to always be a LCC / charter airport.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Prestwick
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It is not too long ago that Master Plans for Scotland's airports were showing both Glasgow and Edinburgh requiring second runways! Despite the best efforts of HMG through the APD to restrict passenger traffic growth (so as to avoid the 3rd runway at LHR?) air traffic including air cargo will start to grow again at which point Prestwick's future could look much healthier.
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Irvine
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Prestwick has more going for it than some people realise. It's not, as some would have you believe, stuck right in the middle of nowhere. It's only around 40 minutes from Glasgow city centre, about the same time it takes to get from Stansted, Luton or Heathrow to the centre of London. It has two main runways, one of which is the only one north of Manchester that's long enough to accomodate the A380. It has it's own train station. It's relatively fog free all year round and regularly handles diversions because other UK airports are closed because of fog.
However, I do agree that major structural work is necessary on the terminal building and the train station.
Could Prestwick be used as a mini hub airport with facilities for incoming passengers who wish to connect on to other flights?
However, I do agree that major structural work is necessary on the terminal building and the train station.
Could Prestwick be used as a mini hub airport with facilities for incoming passengers who wish to connect on to other flights?
Join Date: Aug 2002
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If BHX can take the A380 then surely GLA and EDI could take one too as the runways are comparable. Not that any Scottish airport is A380 certified though.
Join Date: Nov 2010
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So putting aside all the advantages / disadvantages of PIK who potentially would look to buy the PIK operation. I have heard rumours of a consortium being fronted by Sir Tom Hunter, of course the 'Ryanairport' rumour and I also heard a rumour about Xian Aircraft looking at the BAe site for possible aircraft production. What else is out there?