Carlisle-3
AN airline company hopes it will be able to fly passengers on commercial flights from Carlisle's Lake District Airport. Lakeland Airways, a relatively new aviation company, looks to put forward a positive case for the re-opening of the airport. Chief vision officer, Jon Davies, said "opportunities have been missed" by not re-opening sooner. He was responding to Cumbria's Chamber of Commerce concerns that 'the money could be better spent elsewhere'.
Managing director Suzanne Caldwell said: "There's a lot more urgent that would make much more of a difference to Cumbrian businesses that need focusing on. In terms of sorting out challenges of economy, energy prices, labour shortages and the trains, If someone's got a plan that will make behind the airport that will work, we're absolutely behind it, we're not anti-airport. We just think there's an awful lot of challenges and lots of reasons for it not to work," she said.
The founder of Lakeland Airways highlighted one thing he felt has been overlooked is the potential inbound market into Carlisle and Cumbria that would benefit.
"The primary role of the Chamber of Commerce is to protect and represent its members interests, however, I've been spending a lot of time engaging and networking with many small to medium-sized businesses in and around Carlisle, all of whom are really supportive of my vision and want to see commercial flights operating from and to the airport - they can't and don't understand why the Chamber have taken the stance that they have or indeed why they would choose to come across so negatively about something that there's a real appetite for," Mr Davies said.
Managing director Suzanne Caldwell said: "There's a lot more urgent that would make much more of a difference to Cumbrian businesses that need focusing on. In terms of sorting out challenges of economy, energy prices, labour shortages and the trains, If someone's got a plan that will make behind the airport that will work, we're absolutely behind it, we're not anti-airport. We just think there's an awful lot of challenges and lots of reasons for it not to work," she said.
The founder of Lakeland Airways highlighted one thing he felt has been overlooked is the potential inbound market into Carlisle and Cumbria that would benefit.
"The primary role of the Chamber of Commerce is to protect and represent its members interests, however, I've been spending a lot of time engaging and networking with many small to medium-sized businesses in and around Carlisle, all of whom are really supportive of my vision and want to see commercial flights operating from and to the airport - they can't and don't understand why the Chamber have taken the stance that they have or indeed why they would choose to come across so negatively about something that there's a real appetite for," Mr Davies said.
Long time since an update…with the proposed sale of Southend..will this have any impact on Carlisle’s future?
Still in use Un licensed at moment…any locals have any news?
Still in use Un licensed at moment…any locals have any news?
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There was talk of a SAR helicopter supposedly going to be based at the airport for the S23 season, but the last rumour I heard was that it ended up going elsewhere in the end (not sure exactly where though...?!) as Esken attempted to sell the entire airport site to the operator rather than just providing the requested fuel and hangarage.
I wonder if Esken will try including CAX into the deal for any potential buyer of SEN - they [Esken] surely won't want to be left just with CAX as a stand-alone asset, would they...?!
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Just announced on Facebook they are open for General aviation and anything that doesn't require the use of a licenced airfield. Have noticed a few King Airs popping in and out recently tbf.
The Isle of Wight is a major tourist area, isn't on the UK mainland (unlike Cumbria) and doesn't have a proper commercial airport. Doesn't seem to stop people coming to visit
I suspect many international visitors also spend time in other parts of the UK as part of their trip - Edinburgh, Liverpool/Manchester, Midlands, London - so it's fairly straightforward to use those airports as part of a longer trip.
For Europeans visiting these shores bringing your own vehicle makes more sense than flying, since our lamentable disjointed public transport system makes having wheels almost essential and renting a vehicle isn't cheap.
For visitors from further afield the UK looks a very small place and decent international hubs at Edinburgh, Manchester and London are more than adequate. Not being able to fly to Carlisle isn't a game changer.
There is probably a market from Carlisle to Dublin, Belfast and the Isle of Man, and probably for something similar from Blackpool. There just aren't the operators around now who could make it work.
Anything else is pie in the sky IMHO
Anything else is pie in the sky IMHO
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Agree 100%. The BHD route by all accounts was the most successful according to the crew with a considerable number or commuting traffic. Sadly the days of small niche carriers in the UK are probably well over.
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Forget the airlines, running very limited passenger services to an airport costs the airport owner money. Enskin has first hand experience of this with Southend. Despite what any airline might want it isn’t going to happen.
David Shearer, executive chairman of Esken said: "Over the last financial year, we secured a successful debt fund raising in difficult market conditions, completed a strategic review of our operating businesses, and are now progressing with our plans to sell our core operating businesses and residual non-core assets through a managed disposal process with a view to returning any remaining value to Esken shareholders." A spokesperson confirmed that the company will look into finding a buyer to develop the opportunity at Carlisle Lake District Airport.
https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/2...n-shed-assets/
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In 2021, hopes were raised that Carlisle's Lake District Airport would potentially be re-opening with a takeover planned by The Isle of Man-based company Ettyl Limited - which signed agreements for the acquisition for £15m, as reported on the London Stock Exchange.
However following the announcement of Stobart Air's liquidation, the deal collapsed.
However following the announcement of Stobart Air's liquidation, the deal collapsed.
As far as I'm aware, Ettyl was really only interested in acquiring Stobart Air, however Esken effectively packaged up both the airline and CAX to sell onto them; the deal fell through due to issues relating to their financing and Mr Scales has since been in court on the Isle of Man facing charges of fraud.
Also, the comments made last year by the Leader of the Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, suggesting that plans to reintroduce commercial flights is akin to "flogging [a] dead horse", really didn't help matters.
According to their FB page, CAX is open for GA and aircraft that do not require the use of a licensed aerodrome, plus they've taken delivery of a new AVGAS bowser and a supply of AVGAS, with Jet A1 following shortly.
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Using Google, yearly tourist number to the IoW are 625.000, whilst the Lake District is overall inc day visitors, over 45 million. I repeat what I said in June "I am astonished, that one of the UK's largest tourist areas, is devoid of a functioning airport!"