PRESTWICK
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Some PIK comment here from Michael Kelly ex Lord Provost of Glasgow
Michael Kelly: No place for Prestwick in flightplan - The Scotsman
Michael Kelly: No place for Prestwick in flightplan - The Scotsman
Last edited by Joe Curry; 17th Oct 2013 at 13:19. Reason: Typo
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. Prestwick should be shut and support should be given to develop Edinburgh as our single hub – Edinburgh rather than Glasgow because it is the better performing of the two and there are good transport links between the cities.
No connection at the airport into National Rail means you don't get to say your airport has "good transport links." Comedy. How's your wee tram coming along by the way? Looking at the budget, one can only assume they're using actual gold as tram lines....
Last edited by Skipness One Echo; 17th Oct 2013 at 14:04.
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Yes Joe, let's support your local airport at EDI at the expense of GLA, and close PIK while we're at it.
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EGPK is an ideal place for 'crew-trainng' flights. Great, (and often very challenging) Wx, a visual circuit which can be largely over water, suitable for both civil and military operations.
Last edited by ZOOKER; 17th Oct 2013 at 15:52.
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Michael Kelly has no credibility whatsoever as a journalist and some of his comments regards PIK are laughable - he has done no actual research and in fact has used the Scottish Government decision around PIK as a an excuse and focus for his anti-SNP sentiments.
And as usual Joe your claims to be only the 'messenger' fools no-one.
And as usual Joe your claims to be only the 'messenger' fools no-one.
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Well said Scots SLF
says Mr.Kelly.
One wonders therefore why, when he was Provost, he didn't insist that what is currently called "Glasgow International Airport" be honestly renamed "Paisley International" or "Renfrew International" given that it's own website shows :
Address: Caledonia Way, Paisley, Renfrewshire PA3 2SW
Even the dishonest change of name to Glasgow Prestwick hasn’t helped
One wonders therefore why, when he was Provost, he didn't insist that what is currently called "Glasgow International Airport" be honestly renamed "Paisley International" or "Renfrew International" given that it's own website shows :
Address: Caledonia Way, Paisley, Renfrewshire PA3 2SW
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Prestwick was Glasgow (Prestwick) for Trans Canada and BOAC via Northwest Orient, CP Air and Laker. As was London (Gatwick).....
You have to be incredibly local minded to get upset at such matters. Tokyo-Narita feels like it's in Korea by comparison.
You have to be incredibly local minded to get upset at such matters. Tokyo-Narita feels like it's in Korea by comparison.
Last edited by Skipness One Echo; 17th Oct 2013 at 18:40.
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Mr Kellys article is complete nonsense. Got bored reading it after 1 MINUTE. ALL these Pik haters on here. Are you all scared of pik and the potential it has ?. you seem to be obsessed with wishing for it to close. Which will never happen. The future will be bright once again at Prestwick Airport and so many people will be proved wrong.
Join Date: Oct 2012
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I have read some un informed doggy doos in my time, but this article has more blatant lies in it than a tory party manifesto.
I do not see the point in answering any of the spurious points, but there really does need to be some growing up done in terms of politics in Scotland and also aviation policy.
A warning for all the bandwagon protestors - decisions made now could and will set a precedent for the future..think about how this could effect your nearest airport.
I do not see the point in answering any of the spurious points, but there really does need to be some growing up done in terms of politics in Scotland and also aviation policy.
A warning for all the bandwagon protestors - decisions made now could and will set a precedent for the future..think about how this could effect your nearest airport.
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Another example of how, secondary airports, like PIK can be profitable with low passenger numbers!
Southend in profit and looking for more airlines - www.travelweekly.co.uk
Southend in profit and looking for more airlines - www.travelweekly.co.uk
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Yes but I'm sure SEN is only actually profitable on an operating level (and bearing in mind the comments in this article related to the busiest period of the year)...if you take into account the actual costs outlaid by Stobart in terms of investment in infrastructure I'd be surprised if SEN actually makes a true return on investment within 10 years..
I suppose the same argument could be made for PIK - that if the Scottish Government were prepared to invest in (and write off) the investment needed to build a new, efficient terminal of the right size and integrity to cut costs of operation (in terms of maintenance, manpower, heating/lighting etc) then there is a very plausible argument that PIK could similarly be profitable even with pax loads at around their current levels (and bearing in mind the other businesses on site).
I suppose the same argument could be made for PIK - that if the Scottish Government were prepared to invest in (and write off) the investment needed to build a new, efficient terminal of the right size and integrity to cut costs of operation (in terms of maintenance, manpower, heating/lighting etc) then there is a very plausible argument that PIK could similarly be profitable even with pax loads at around their current levels (and bearing in mind the other businesses on site).
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PIK was similarly profitable on a lower volume of passengers & cargo and not just on "an operating" basis. The first loss made at PIK from the ACAP buy out in 1991/92 was not until after infratil bought the business, carved up the operations, introduced so many managers, outsourced fuel, retail, catering, food and drink outlets etc and fell out with MOL and others. Remember Infratil were charging more for some landing fees than GLA for parts of the year.
The layers of red tape now in dealing with PIK are also adding costs and reducing income. For example - to rent a tour operators desk that has been empty for 8 years you first have to speak to Property Management. They then have to put a proposal to Commercial Management, they then have to send this out to an agency for consultation, who come back with a counter proposal, which goes through the same chain again and so on.You get the idea on the multi layers of managers (who outnumber other positions drastically such as cleaners, general maint...
There is no reason that if the airport was run again on the "low cost hub" basis, with a tight control on costs that it could not return to profit on an operational basis rather quickly.
The layers of red tape now in dealing with PIK are also adding costs and reducing income. For example - to rent a tour operators desk that has been empty for 8 years you first have to speak to Property Management. They then have to put a proposal to Commercial Management, they then have to send this out to an agency for consultation, who come back with a counter proposal, which goes through the same chain again and so on.You get the idea on the multi layers of managers (who outnumber other positions drastically such as cleaners, general maint...
There is no reason that if the airport was run again on the "low cost hub" basis, with a tight control on costs that it could not return to profit on an operational basis rather quickly.
While I do not claim specific knowledge of the management hierarchy at Prestwick, you paint a picture of an extraordinarily bureaucratic organisation,.particularly one that until very recently was private sector with shareholders. Why did the MD who presumably reported to New Zealand not just grab hold of the situation and send out a bunch of P45 notices ?
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How long to pay back the investment?
Another example of how, secondary airports, like PIK can be profitable with low passenger numbers!
Southend in profit and looking for more airlines - www.travelweekly.co.uk
Southend in profit and looking for more airlines - www.travelweekly.co.uk
Prestwick is much the same in that it will have on-going capital expenditure requirements that are not met out of the current revenue streams. Hence the need for a sale.
Join Date: Oct 2012
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Simple they brought over external MD's who had no idea about European Operations, Secondary or Regional Airports, and introduced a mainline operation. The current MD has little or no say whatsover.
you paint a picture of an extraordinarily bureaucratic organisation,.
Yes, the organisation was one of the most bureaucratic I have ever had to deal with, and that includes BAA..PIK can only survive as a streamlined organisation that is slick and well run..really same as any business these days!
you paint a picture of an extraordinarily bureaucratic organisation,.
Yes, the organisation was one of the most bureaucratic I have ever had to deal with, and that includes BAA..PIK can only survive as a streamlined organisation that is slick and well run..really same as any business these days!
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Heard the other day, that there is no chance of a name change until the Ryanair contract expires in 2016. It stipulates that the airport must be called Glasgow Prestwick.
If true it shows just how much the airport has given in to Ryanair who had the airport over a barrell.
If true it shows just how much the airport has given in to Ryanair who had the airport over a barrell.
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If true it shows just how much the airport has given in to Ryanair who had the airport over a barrell.
You're not going to get a better name than Glasgow Prestwick, it's apt, more so with the M77. Only the tweedy chaps at the Robert Burns Society would say otherwise.
"Where shall we go Helmut?"
"Burns International!"
"Only if Smithers is there to greet us. I thought Springfield was fictional. Excellent"
D'oooh!
Believe me, the people chuntering on about changing the name have no idea of the real underlying concerns around the business if they want to be spending their time on that sort of malarkey. There are far more important issues to be dealt with first.
Last edited by Skipness One Echo; 26th Oct 2013 at 17:59.
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One wonders therefore why, when he was Provost, he didn't insist that what is currently called "Glasgow International Airport" be honestly renamed "Paisley International" or "Renfrew International" given that it's own website shows :
Address: Caledonia Way, Paisley, Renfrewshire PA3 2SW
Address: Caledonia Way, Paisley, Renfrewshire PA3 2SW
So Abbotsinch can't be called "Renfrew International" because it's not on the same site. It isn't named "Paisley International" for the same reason Heathrow isn't "Hounslow International" - they're named after the former RAF stations which they replaced. Heathrow's address is "Heathrow Airport, Bath Road, Hounslow, Middlesex", it's irrelevant.
AFAIK, the old Renfrew Airport could not handle longhaul flights so they used Prestwick. Abbotsinch handles all, hence the move away from Prestwick to the more convenient Abbotsinch.
In all seriousness it's been Glasgow-Prestwick in every BOAC / BA, Trans Canada / Air Canada and Northwest Orient / NWA marketing literature since the year dot. That particular branding has nothing whatsoever to do with Ryanair. Only in Ayrshire would it still annoy people to be associated with a wierd foreign place like....Glasgow.
You're not going to get a better name than Glasgow Prestwick, it's apt, more so with the M77. Only the tweedy chaps at the Robert Burns Society would say otherwise.
"Where shall we go Helmut?"
"Burns International!"
"Only if Smithers is there to greet us. I thought Springfield was fictional. Excellent"
D'oooh!
Believe me, the people chuntering on about changing the name have no idea of the real underlying concerns around the business if they want to be spending their time on that sort of malarkey. There are far more important issues to be dealt with first.
You're not going to get a better name than Glasgow Prestwick, it's apt, more so with the M77. Only the tweedy chaps at the Robert Burns Society would say otherwise.
"Where shall we go Helmut?"
"Burns International!"
"Only if Smithers is there to greet us. I thought Springfield was fictional. Excellent"
D'oooh!
Believe me, the people chuntering on about changing the name have no idea of the real underlying concerns around the business if they want to be spending their time on that sort of malarkey. There are far more important issues to be dealt with first.
"Glasgow-Prestwick" is the only sensible name for PIK. Now, can we get back to referring to GLA as "Glasgow-Abbotsinch" to avoid potential confusion. After all, it has a pub named after it ("The Abbots Inch")!