PRESTWICK
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Abbotsinch,Scotland
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Have Infratil said they will close if they can't sell? I don't think that has been said, can you link to the statement?
What they said , I believe , was if they can't sell they will seriously consider "the alternatives" , whatever that means !
What they said , I believe , was if they can't sell they will seriously consider "the alternatives" , whatever that means !
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Glasgow
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I agree that Prestwick is looking a bit shabby these days as a result of under investment over the years. It is not difficult to see why many have such a pessimistic view of the airport's future. However, I believe there are a few points that might be worth remembering.
Ryanair may well have reduced the number of services that they operate out of Prestwick but have I believe their largest maintenance, overhaul and refit facility there. I think they have about 400 staff working there. Surely, its in there interest that it remains open or they will have to relocate the work, which would be expensive.
I understood GLA do not want Ryanair there as they do not pay enough. O'Leary needs Prestwick just as much as Prestwick needs Ryanair. The airline only has the upper hand in the deal due to its size and negotiating power. They will secretly be delighted the price of the airport has come down. That means they can bully its new owner into allowing them to use the airport for next to nothing. Then the number of flights will begin to increase again.
In recent times the number of routes operated out of EDI by Ryanair have been cut. O'Leary im sure has complained about the high cost. As demand for air travel grows it will be harder for Ryanair to get the cheap deals they depend on.
BA have also leased a hangar for the next five years.
Although Virgin decided against using the airport recently the fact that they considered it shows Prestwick must have the potential.
Infratil have failed Prestwick. I really hope a new owner is found soon. One that is willing to invest in it.
Ryanair may well have reduced the number of services that they operate out of Prestwick but have I believe their largest maintenance, overhaul and refit facility there. I think they have about 400 staff working there. Surely, its in there interest that it remains open or they will have to relocate the work, which would be expensive.
I understood GLA do not want Ryanair there as they do not pay enough. O'Leary needs Prestwick just as much as Prestwick needs Ryanair. The airline only has the upper hand in the deal due to its size and negotiating power. They will secretly be delighted the price of the airport has come down. That means they can bully its new owner into allowing them to use the airport for next to nothing. Then the number of flights will begin to increase again.
In recent times the number of routes operated out of EDI by Ryanair have been cut. O'Leary im sure has complained about the high cost. As demand for air travel grows it will be harder for Ryanair to get the cheap deals they depend on.
BA have also leased a hangar for the next five years.
Although Virgin decided against using the airport recently the fact that they considered it shows Prestwick must have the potential.
Infratil have failed Prestwick. I really hope a new owner is found soon. One that is willing to invest in it.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: London
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New routes and frequency increases for Ryanair at prestwick and EDI
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Essex
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I don't think it will increase in frequency. It is listed as a new route for the summer since it has only begun flying in October (winter season). So strictly speaking, Prestwick only has 1 NEW route as of today, to Rzeszow.
Ibiza, Palma, Riga and Wroclaw are the only four routes to get frequency increases. Seems to be a mistake on FR website since Riga and Wroclaw are listed as new routes at the bottom of the page but it does say further up two new routes (RZE, WMI) and frequency increases on four (IBZ, PMI, RIX, WRO).
Wizzair will probably continue to compete with Warsaw-Modlin flying twice a week. They have had Ryanair ceompetition through the winter and they have recently put summer 2013 flights (up to the end of October 2013) on sale.
Ibiza, Palma, Riga and Wroclaw are the only four routes to get frequency increases. Seems to be a mistake on FR website since Riga and Wroclaw are listed as new routes at the bottom of the page but it does say further up two new routes (RZE, WMI) and frequency increases on four (IBZ, PMI, RIX, WRO).
Wizzair will probably continue to compete with Warsaw-Modlin flying twice a week. They have had Ryanair ceompetition through the winter and they have recently put summer 2013 flights (up to the end of October 2013) on sale.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
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It's 1989 all over again !
Didn't realise cargo had collapsed quite so badly! Good that FR seem to be commited rather than playing PIK v GLA as I had feared.
Didn't realise cargo had collapsed quite so badly! Good that FR seem to be commited rather than playing PIK v GLA as I had feared.
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Prestwick
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Infratil have ruined PIK ( In my opinion)
flyPIK.com
Third travel company to walk away from the airport this year..instead of just walking away decided to push the relevant people to take action.
Third travel company to walk away from the airport this year..instead of just walking away decided to push the relevant people to take action.
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Prestwick
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perhaps those that agree could join the facebook page or sign the petition!
flypik.com
https://www.facebook.com/prestwicktravelagent
flypik.com
https://www.facebook.com/prestwicktravelagent
Join Date: Aug 2002
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http://www.facebook.com/prestwicktravelagent/info
It's worth reading in full, I remember those days well. Not sure if APD is a red herring and suspect independence certainly is but worth a look. It's rather assuming politicians will come to their aid, however it's the fact that the owners are unable to turn a profit in a commercial environment that's killing 'em.
It's worth reading in full, I remember those days well. Not sure if APD is a red herring and suspect independence certainly is but worth a look. It's rather assuming politicians will come to their aid, however it's the fact that the owners are unable to turn a profit in a commercial environment that's killing 'em.
Mission
Make Prestwick (Burns Int'l) the best airport in Scotland
Description
When PIK first became independent in 1992 under ACAP the airport was profitable on 6 weekly cargo flights and a summer charter to Jersey operated by Manx. The inflated multi level operating system for PIK now means that costs are much higher than they need to be, loss of revenue and profits from in house operations, eg Bars and Food Outlets, Duty Free etc etc. PIK also used to have their own opera
tor, that was a marketing vehicle for the services from the airport. This encouraged airlines and operators, especially the independents that the airport needs. All these made profits but have been stripped back or outsourced.
For example – Until circa the time Infratil bought the airport, the engineering department had numerous multi skilled employees, fully trained in a variety of job roles, eg electrician, maintenance, water quality testers etc all withing one well run compact department. This now is spread through various out source companies costing more, reducing standards etc.
The same applied to the check in staff, who worked check in , retail, bars, and boarding. Making best use of staff levels, lowering costs and keeping the buzz about the airport. Now that it is outsourced there are many more staff than needed, duplicating jobs and loss of profits from the retail and other outlets.
The airport has the passenger throughput, cargo flights and facilities to be profitable as it stands just now, with an urgent change is running style and management required. For example, the airport has a full size function suite, that is never advertised strongly - think of the business loss here!
We realise that APD is causing a lot of the downturn, however this is not effecting growth at EDI or other low cost operations like Liverpool. When there used to be several tour operators using the airport, most based the prices in their brochures as from Prestwick, with supplements from others eg Manchester, Gatwick. APD is only part of the story, increased landing, handling, fuel (due to being outsourced with no competition at the airport) have all had a drastic effect at PIK. Until we get independence (or APD devolved as it should be) these other things could be changed and would bring the airport back into growth and profit.
Notwithstanding reports due out soon, if there was some way of bringing PIK into even temporary public ownership to overhaul the operation – re brand - and streamline the working practices to bring about growth and profits this could lead to a future sell off – worth more than the current pittance value.
Make Prestwick (Burns Int'l) the best airport in Scotland
Description
When PIK first became independent in 1992 under ACAP the airport was profitable on 6 weekly cargo flights and a summer charter to Jersey operated by Manx. The inflated multi level operating system for PIK now means that costs are much higher than they need to be, loss of revenue and profits from in house operations, eg Bars and Food Outlets, Duty Free etc etc. PIK also used to have their own opera
tor, that was a marketing vehicle for the services from the airport. This encouraged airlines and operators, especially the independents that the airport needs. All these made profits but have been stripped back or outsourced.
For example – Until circa the time Infratil bought the airport, the engineering department had numerous multi skilled employees, fully trained in a variety of job roles, eg electrician, maintenance, water quality testers etc all withing one well run compact department. This now is spread through various out source companies costing more, reducing standards etc.
The same applied to the check in staff, who worked check in , retail, bars, and boarding. Making best use of staff levels, lowering costs and keeping the buzz about the airport. Now that it is outsourced there are many more staff than needed, duplicating jobs and loss of profits from the retail and other outlets.
The airport has the passenger throughput, cargo flights and facilities to be profitable as it stands just now, with an urgent change is running style and management required. For example, the airport has a full size function suite, that is never advertised strongly - think of the business loss here!
We realise that APD is causing a lot of the downturn, however this is not effecting growth at EDI or other low cost operations like Liverpool. When there used to be several tour operators using the airport, most based the prices in their brochures as from Prestwick, with supplements from others eg Manchester, Gatwick. APD is only part of the story, increased landing, handling, fuel (due to being outsourced with no competition at the airport) have all had a drastic effect at PIK. Until we get independence (or APD devolved as it should be) these other things could be changed and would bring the airport back into growth and profit.
Notwithstanding reports due out soon, if there was some way of bringing PIK into even temporary public ownership to overhaul the operation – re brand - and streamline the working practices to bring about growth and profits this could lead to a future sell off – worth more than the current pittance value.
Last edited by Skipness One Echo; 13th Dec 2012 at 03:03.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Glasgow
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Burns International. Does that refer to fingers by chance?
If there's such a great opportunity to turn the operation around and make a profit why does no private company wish to do so?
The government should keep out of private business and try to stop picking winners and losers, it's invariably the losers that get picked.
G
If there's such a great opportunity to turn the operation around and make a profit why does no private company wish to do so?
The government should keep out of private business and try to stop picking winners and losers, it's invariably the losers that get picked.
G
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Prestwick
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There are many reasons the current owners can not turn a profit. first and foremost the fact that you cant run PIK on a par with a primary airport.
APD and Independence are not so much red herrings, but something the current management would like to blame, rather than look inwards at their own failures.
The airport is going down hill and lets face it no investor will take on the elephant that has been created by infratil. However (and I will state for the record I do know what I am talking about) the airport made a commercial profit with no ryanair. It could do so again, with the right drive and vision for running a low cost airport.
The campaign is to highlight this fact and encourage both politicians, public bodies and hopefully a cooperative to be formed to bring the airport back. It can be done, but not by a management team who take months to decide on a date in January for a holiday show ( Any Saturday) and still cant confirm a date, this included companies like Mercury and Sunspot who wanted to support it....
Other airports in the UK are making a profit with less traffic..
APD and Independence are not so much red herrings, but something the current management would like to blame, rather than look inwards at their own failures.
The airport is going down hill and lets face it no investor will take on the elephant that has been created by infratil. However (and I will state for the record I do know what I am talking about) the airport made a commercial profit with no ryanair. It could do so again, with the right drive and vision for running a low cost airport.
The campaign is to highlight this fact and encourage both politicians, public bodies and hopefully a cooperative to be formed to bring the airport back. It can be done, but not by a management team who take months to decide on a date in January for a holiday show ( Any Saturday) and still cant confirm a date, this included companies like Mercury and Sunspot who wanted to support it....
Other airports in the UK are making a profit with less traffic..
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Essex
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Some positive news from Prestwick. November 2012 passenger figures were 25.5% up on 2011. A very healthy increase and unlike English airports not influenced by a later school half-term holiday.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Scotlandshire
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Monarch
Monarch A320 landed around 2130hrs 17/12/12 from Rovaniemi airport lapland.
Any ideas if this was a scheduled winter flight??? or tech stop? Can't find any santa flights bookable from Prestwick
Any ideas if this was a scheduled winter flight??? or tech stop? Can't find any santa flights bookable from Prestwick
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: The M77...
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According to this article ( goo.gl/miH2Q) Scottish Enterprise have found a way to subsidise routes from secondary airports. This, if true, could make Prestwick a whole lot more interesting for potential buyers. But until confirmed by S.E, I'd treat it with a serious pinçh of salt.