PPRuNe Forums - Prestwick-2

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Prestwick losses in 2017-2017 period were £7.8m, so it's costing each person in Scotland £1.47

With 678,000 passengers using the airport during that period, you'd need to charge an extra £11.50 per passenger to cover the shortfall. Revenue per passenger is currently £5.49, which appears to be extremely low, however we know how Ryanair hate to pay their way, so increasing this may be tough.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Royston (Post 10197109)

That's what I thought as well but it seems that it was mentioned previously in relation to the rocket launched sattelite side of things. The space tourist side, if ever developed, is more likely to be from an existing airport.
A rocket was launched in Oct 2015 from the Hebrides Range that would be similar to what would be used at Sutherland.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...lands-35482244

Yesterdays announcement is in addition to previous schemes. It was decided a while ago to abandon the idea of nominating a single site for horizontal space launch facilities, but instead let a number of places compete on a commercial basis for the work. This new announcement is for a vertical launch facility, which was never previously discussed.

The actual press release mentions the following:

Quote:

- Lockheed Martin to establish vertical launch operations in Sutherland, Scotland and develop innovative technologies in Reading, Berkshire with support from two UK Space Agency grants totalling £23.5 million

- A further £5.5 million will go to British company Orbex to build an innovative new rocket for launch from Sutherland, as part of Government’s modern Industrial Strategy

- This builds on awards of £2.5m to Highlands and Islands Enterprise to develop a vertical launch spaceport in Sutherland and a £2m development fund for horizontal spaceports such as those planned in Cornwall, Glasgow Prestwick and Snowdonia

- Government support for launch is the first step towards a potential Space Sector Deal and the development of a national space programme

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/l...-new-space-age

So we may well still see something happening at PIK.

1) Get in a new airline in and get more passengers with a view to moving into profitability
2) Close passenger terminal and downsize to attempt to become profitable on the remainder of the business
3) Launch rockets into space and make money doing so on a consistent basis from the middle of the Scottish TMA

The fact that one of those is even on the table shows how crazy things now are.

Quote:

3) Launch rockets into space and make money doing so on a consistent basis from the middle of the Scottish TMA

It isn't - what is is launching rockets from some sort of airborne platform which would take off from PIK. Not saying that isn't barmy, but it's not the same thing. About as plausible as option 1, though.

Apparently Newquay is the front runner for the first horizontal launches. Signed a commercial agreement with Virgin Orbit.

The fact is Prestwick has been looking at horizontal launch space flight, there would be no rockets blasting off from the airfield and interrupting the air traffic.
Launch vehicles would take off (like a plane), fly (like a plane) to the launch area and release the craft which would then boost into orbit while the mothership returns to earth (like a plane). This would have minimum effect on air traffic as the launches of the space cargo would take place away from air traffic corridors. Admittedly this is still some way away from being commercially operative, but Virgin Galactic are making strides towards it happening along.

What could they do to convince ryanair to open more routes? The likes of Dublin and Shannon used to be popular when they operated. BFS would do well too. Such a shame seeing a good facility going to waste

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skipness One Foxtrot (Post 10198073)

Indeed. Suggestion 1 truly is crazy. Of all the airlines on the planet only one is slightly interested and that's because they can pay well below the growing rate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callum Paterson (Post 10198329)

Indeed. Suggestion 1 truly is crazy. Of all the airlines on the planet only one is slightly interested and that's because they can pay well below the growing rate.

That is complete nonsense. If that was the case then why did they switch and expand from Glasgow?

Not nonsense. Why are they now (largely) leaving Glasgow?

Quote:

Originally Posted by willy wombat (Post 10205983)

Not nonsense. Why are they now (largely) leaving Glasgow?

From what I understand, the departure from GLA is driven by politics and not pax loads.

Do tell more. It's difficult to believe that FR decisions are driven by anything other than money.

Local forum hearsay, nothing more.
This decision will have been multifactorial and to suit noone else but Ryanair.
As we know loads and subsequent yields mean nothing.
I would be very surprised however if its easier to fill a 738 with decent fares from PIK than it is from GLA.

Not sure how concrete it is, but Ryanair's booking engine has been loaded up for S19, it looks like.

Bydogoszcz looks to be added at 2x weekly. Rzeszow 2x weekly and Fuerteventura and Malta x1 weekly are missing this year, so far at least. Barcelona and Gran Canaria return for the summer at 6x weekly (BCN) and 2x weekly (LPA) after receiving winter cuts this year.

I think any cuts that take place will mainly be whats in the booking engine just now. Bydogoszcz effectively replaces Rzeszow, Malta and Fuerteventura go and Alicante and Barcelona lose a daily flight.

I see Spicejet 737 800 Max aircraft are using Prestwick as a refuelling point on their delivery flights. Yesterday's was 8hrs 41mins from Seattle, 1hr stop and 8hrs 31mins to Delhi. I imagine they would need extra tanks fitted for these flights.

Depending on winds, Im not sure they need extra tanks on an empty new 737Max. Thats a whole engineering and cost issue...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Royston (Post 10347224)

The cost, time and inconvenience of having to fit and remove a ferry tank would be far more than simply scheduling an additional stop if the range was insufficient.