PRESTWICK
Join Date: May 2002
Location: SW Scotland
Age: 40
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One thing that I think is clear is that it cannot be economical to open and run (heat, maintain, staff etc) the existing terminal for sometimes as little as one flight a day. Commercially orientated management (without the State as a back up) should by now have taken the fight back to Ryanair and made it clear that the airport was not run for FR's convenience and that they were not prepared to open the terminal for one flight a day and that Ryanair had to run a "reasonable" program or nothing at all.If the answer was "nothing at all" then at least the management could look at what costs could be saved by mothballing the terminal and concentrating on other activities. I have no desire to see the demise of Prestwick but continuing to keep that terminal, designed for transatlantic flights in the 60s, open for a handful of FR flights doesn't make sense. Only if I see some action being taken to seriously reduce costs in that area will I start to believe that the management team has got some commercial nous.
They need to keep the terminal open, and passengers flowing regardless of the numbers, so that they may stand a hope of attracting other operators in future. What if EuroLoCo starts to look at the airport, and sees that the terminal is closed during the winter? It's going to put them off launching that once daily flight they were considering.
Join Date: Nov 2000
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The problem is how long do you wait for"euro loco" to appear? A commercially run business cannot just sit like Mr Micawber hoping that something will turn up.
Last edited by willy wombat; 9th Nov 2014 at 16:56. Reason: Punctuation
Join Date: Nov 1999
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Just as a general point: if one goes into "User CP" on the top left of the forum page, there is a feature "Edit ignore list". This allows you messages from particular posters to be screened out. I find it works quite well. 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Gatwick
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12-30 wind sock
I don't agree with facet, i don't think your an idiot either and i admire your passion for your home airport, having said all that i think it is entirely reasonable for people to post their opinion about the speculation over whether or not an airport or airline is viable.
It reminds me a lot of the debate over Globespan, two very different camps, one thought it was the next Ryanair other's thought it the next Gill airways, inevitably one view will prevail
I'm in the can't see where the new business will come from but would love to be wrong after all its a dam site easier to close an airport than open one.
So keep positive, keep fighting above all don't take it personal
It reminds me a lot of the debate over Globespan, two very different camps, one thought it was the next Ryanair other's thought it the next Gill airways, inevitably one view will prevail
I'm in the can't see where the new business will come from but would love to be wrong after all its a dam site easier to close an airport than open one.
So keep positive, keep fighting above all don't take it personal
Join Date: May 2013
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It seems that PIK and LDY currently find themselves in exactly the same predicament.
2 state run airports who now in total reliance on Ryanair, any increase in cost or competition will see Ryanair spit the dummy and local politicians being red faced and having to explain the waste of taxpayers money in airports with no viable stand alone business plan.
2 state run airports who now in total reliance on Ryanair, any increase in cost or competition will see Ryanair spit the dummy and local politicians being red faced and having to explain the waste of taxpayers money in airports with no viable stand alone business plan.
Join Date: Jul 2005
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(SNIP) Other posters look at airports like football teams(SNIP).
It seems to me that there will never be agreement between these points of view - it's what the French call a "dialogue of the deaf".
I think the main thing to do here (and in Doncaster etc) is to emphasis the availability of the ignore list; which can't be pointed out enough times.
In the meantime I'll head over to the Cambridge and Stansted threads to campaign for several direct flights a day from one of those airports (preferably Cambridge!) to Prestwick as if doing so would change reality, because these would suit me amazingly well.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Northern Ireland
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Hey Shed, they are not enthusiasts, they are Spotters
You my friend have got it wrong on a few counts too, Skipness knows
nowt about aviation, he just spouts off from a pax point of view, nothing
wrong with that of course, but then he tries to pretend he knows what
he is talking about on more technical and business points, he doesn't
You my friend have got it wrong on a few counts too, Skipness knows
nowt about aviation, he just spouts off from a pax point of view, nothing
wrong with that of course, but then he tries to pretend he knows what
he is talking about on more technical and business points, he doesn't
with respect, Skipness in my view adds a lot of value and incite and has a commercially grounded perspective. That certainly beats rambling on about who is spotter or enthusiast etc. I think pprune would be a better forum if this sort of victimising others was dropped.
EI-BUD
Couldn't agree more. Skipness has always struck me as a knowledgeable and grounded poster, and as for him knowing nowt about aviation? .... well the clue is in his username.
Join Date: Feb 2014
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Very interesting indeed. I could be safe to presume Trump plans to buy the airport, why else would be hold a press conference at the airport?! If indeed he does buy EGPK doesn’t anyone wish to speculate as that what his plans could be? It’s perfectly located for corporate and general aviation serving his Turnberry Golf course which is of course very close to the airport itself.
Join Date: May 2002
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Why would he buy the airport, what benefit would that bring him? As long as the airport is there and isn't threatened with closure then that is all he needs. A multi-million pound investment for zero return? Not his style.
Probably just announcing a free shuttle bus from the airport to his golf course, or a dual marketing agreement.
Probably just announcing a free shuttle bus from the airport to his golf course, or a dual marketing agreement.
Join Date: Feb 2014
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That's just it though. The airport is threatened with closure. Would Trump continue to operate the expensive and loss making passenger terminal. I doubt it. Could he turn it into a very successful private airfield servicing his golf resort. I wouldn't rule it out.
Trump wouldn't be holding a press conference at the airport unless it is big news and a significant development which warrants plenty of press coverage. IMO of course.
Trump wouldn't be holding a press conference at the airport unless it is big news and a significant development which warrants plenty of press coverage. IMO of course.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Scotland
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Yes, if Trump himself is going to deign us with his presence then you'd expect it to be a fairly significant announcement, I tend to doubt he'd come all this way to announce a free minibus tbh!
As Flying.Penguin suggests, I could see him being interested in biz/GA or perhaps even high-end charter flights for pax going to Turnberry (although I'm not sure he'd want them passing through the current terminal!). Perhaps he might even like to build a small private VIP terminal.
I'd agree though that it seems an unnecessary step for him to buy the airport outright. Why take on all the expense and assorted hassles of running an airport when you don't need to? Even if the SG sold it to him for £1 he'd still have to take on/settle the millions in "loans" the airport was given, otherwise the EU could become quite interested!
As Flying.Penguin suggests, I could see him being interested in biz/GA or perhaps even high-end charter flights for pax going to Turnberry (although I'm not sure he'd want them passing through the current terminal!). Perhaps he might even like to build a small private VIP terminal.
I'd agree though that it seems an unnecessary step for him to buy the airport outright. Why take on all the expense and assorted hassles of running an airport when you don't need to? Even if the SG sold it to him for £1 he'd still have to take on/settle the millions in "loans" the airport was given, otherwise the EU could become quite interested!
Join Date: Apr 2001
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If Nicola Sturgeon allows Trump to take over Prestwick, rename it "Donald Trump International" and focus it on ferrying the global super-rich to his latest resort, I wouldn't hold out too much hope for her future as a politician given her commitment only yesterday to place a "sharp focus" on reducing inequality in Scotland.
NS
NS
Join Date: Aug 2002
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So they won't name it after Scotland's greatest poet, but they'll happily name it after an American billionaire with a combover?!
If he's getting to dictate what the airport's called he must be coughing up some kind of significant investment!
The one thing that I agreed with in Mr Py's report was the need to keep Glasgow in the name. It'll be interesting to see what they can come up with that simultaneously sates Trump's ego, keeps MOL happy and stops GLA complaining about PIK pretending to be Glasgow's main airport.
If he's getting to dictate what the airport's called he must be coughing up some kind of significant investment!The one thing that I agreed with in Mr Py's report was the need to keep Glasgow in the name. It'll be interesting to see what they can come up with that simultaneously sates Trump's ego, keeps MOL happy and stops GLA complaining about PIK pretending to be Glasgow's main airport.
