Blackpool-2
 

Read more at: Balfour in sale talks over airport future - Blackpool Gazette

A while since I posted this thread, was shocked to find out CityWing have gone bust

The Czech-based airline operated flights between Blackpool and Ronaldsway with Citywing acting merely as a ticket seller. It was forced to pull out at short notice following the intervention of the Civil Aviation Authority after an incident during Storm Doris.

Read more at: AIR ambulance called to Retford crash as car ends up in ditch - Retford Trader and Guardian

More to this than meets the eye - So Citywing was just like Ticketmaster??

They do say they never made a penny from Blackpool. they kept the route open for people of the IoM.

What has this 10 year old report to do with the Citywing discussion. Am I missing something?

No, it's just Ernest losing the plot...!


Reckon another operator will soon fill Citywing's shoes.


See if I'm wrong.


S http://cdn.pprune.org/images/smilies/wink2.gif

TSR2 and Sandgrown.

No I am not losing the plot - I have never seen that link before, the link I posted had to do with the topic.

No you are not missing anything TSR2, I am just as gobsmacked as you. Links can change that's the only explanation I can give.

Like who Sandgrown - Flybe? 'Loganair' did not stay long, did they?

Progress...?

Airport boss still chasing new airline - Blackpool Gazette

From Save Blackpool Airport group, sale announcement expected from BB this week:

https://twitter.com/saveblackpoolap

Financial Times, 13/9/17



Balfour is selling its 95 per cent share back toBlackpool Council for £4.25m. Balfour said this was in line with itsstrategy of simplifying its portfolio of assets.

Load of rubbish. Passenger numbers was not falling. In fact Jet2 was expanding their routes.

Reading various reports it seems that more land will be sold to the Enterprise Zone, with little chance of large passenger jets flying from Blackpool again.

Blackpool Airport returns to public ownership after 13 years as Balfour Beatty sells stake
"Anytime soon" Interesting choice of words.

https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/News/20...port-site.aspx

They've got a better chance without Balfour Beatty surely.

If so the council are playing it down. Anything was better than BB.

This begs the question why did the council not make an offer when BB were desperate to sell the airport (they say) was making a loss?

The council waits until the airport albeit without large jets, is in profit again.

They could have negotiated a new deal with Jet2 - It would take time before any operator trusted Blackpool again.

HELLO ernest nice to see you back on. this whole blk downfall is nothing short of a travesty, but that's it for the airport, itll never be anything more than it is now - probably less. i admire all who hope for better things but it's pointless:ugh:

Remember that BB allowed the demolition of the passenger terminal, so a lot of dosh would have to be found to build and equip a new one for commercial passenger flights to return.

Well just getting the Isle of Man flights back would be a start. A lot less dosh required for those.

Thank's I do pop on from time to time dada,

I tend to agree - I think BLK is now a GA and will stay that way. the council will sell more land for the enterprise zone.

I would have thought the Dart Group might have bought Blackpool Airport at the time BB were desperate to sell.

They could have used the airport for other than passenger flights and no landing fees for Jet2.

Has Blackpool ever accommodated Jumbo (B747) Jets?

A Laker DC10 visited in another universe

No - The runway is long enough, but no way there would have been enough room to taxi a 747 into position. That's was what I have been told.

By "Jumbo" in the article it was a poor choice or words for B737-300 and 800. B757-200 or A320.

Losing the terminal was a game changer. Cost ££ to build, cost £ to knock down and would cost £££ to replace like for like. It was never that big so a circus tent had to be attached to it a few years back.

The council must have given BB planing permission to knock the terminal down but it was knocked down in haste. As soon as Jet2 had been forced out the bulldozers moved in. Why the urgency? In Blackpool when a building is abandoned it usually stays empty for years before being demolished. Is the land still empty or was it built on straight away?

It seemed at the time that the terminal was destroyed to make sure no meaningful passenger operation could return even if better terms could have been negotiated.

Why did the council not buy the runway? Seems a strange statement to make about protecting the airport when they did not buy the runway.

I believe the council are building a college on the site of the former terminal or that was the plan.

https://lancashireenergyhq.blackpool.ac.uk/

LTNman - see link. Presumably the council took a view that this would contribute more to the local economy. Think there was also plans to build a smaller terminal nearer the runway?

Also, what makes you think the runway isn't included in the deal? I've not seen anything on this.

There is a bit of confusion as the Council keep showing the Airport Enterprize Zone on maps, which the runways are not part of.

Blackpool could not handle containerised baggage - a 767 once flew in (1990s) and they had to borrow kit from MAN.

If the airport didn't have the appropriate kit to handle containerised baggage why did they have to borrow equipment from Manchester Airport for what I presume was a one off flight.

Why did the Boeing 767 visit Blackpool in the first place knowing that the airport didn't have the equipment to handle containerised baggage?

What airline was it and when did this occur and for what reason, if you have any details I would appreciate you posting more.

I was working at Blackpool Airport in the 1990's and the 767 Private (one off special - was it not Brunei or Saudi registered ? but never made it due weather possibly diverted to Manchester) , the USAF Lockheed C141 Starlifter that was supposed to be coming in but went elsewhere in the end with a military band on board or the likes . A US Navy P3 Orion overnighted for a few days.


Previous biggest types to have been in that I've seen on the tarmac 707 , 757 , 737 , 727 (US Reg Private ) , 1-11 , 146 , DC-9 to name a few and a Shorts Belfast on a newspaper flight over the years , when the Vanguards were operating at weekends etc. Possibly First Choice 767 in once but can't confirm didn't see it myself as it could have been a frame change instead of a 757 or A320 on series of IT flights on that occasion my shifts didn't coincide unfortunately but heard rumour of it !! Also Braathens (Norway) looked at bringing one in on the annual dance festival charters at Easter that ran for years but used 737's instead

The fore runner of Travelcitydirect when less well known and local based , also planned a series of Blackpool - Florida IT flights using a 757 with a fuel stop at Shannon but that never happened....


Rutan16 .......had Laker 1-11's in once due to a Fire Department strike at Manchester if I recollect , but I didn't work at the airport at that time but remember it being in the local press.


:ok:

The council bought the airport, without runways there would be no airport.

Latest news;
https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/n...pool-1-9153651

I see its 11 days time that the flyica web site goes live.

I see their Local Enterprise Partnership pledged £28.8m yesterday to develop the business park side of the site. No mention at all of any of that actually going into the airfield-related infrastructures, as an operational airport. Following the re-aquisition by the local authority last year, great to see investment being courted, but it's got nothing to do with running it as an airport and everythign to do with commercial property development.

Some of the money will no doubt be used to cover the cost of building new hangars to replace those alongside Squires Gate Lane, together with a new control tower closer to the main runway.

Don't hold your breath!
Intercity Airways would be a lovely idea but if no-one buys tickets - -.
An ACMI airline?
A nice pipe dream though.

Wh
 

Can I stop holding my breath yet?
No active website , no aircraft, no routes - just a 19 yr olds daydream that the Press pumped up.
Unless, of course, you can ' show me the money'

Come on! Its the School holidays. Surely Bradley Gosney's parents have let him out to play now.

Next Blackpool Gazette story may well be about how Ryanair are going to turn the airport into their world wide Base.