Greer Aviation
 

THE head of aircraft handling firm Greer Aviation today condemned ministers for evicting it and counterparts Landmark Aviation from Scottish Government-run Prestwick Airport.

Managing director Bert Greer said some 25 jobs could go because of the “nationalisation” of operations at the struggling Prestwick base.

The airport will take over duties such as refuelling aircraft. Mr Greer said the move threatened to drive aircraft elsewhere because his firm had offered a specialist service to customers such as the UK and United States military.

This has included arranging hotel accommodation and golf trips for personnel during stopovers.

Mr Greer said his firm, which has operated at Prestwick since 2001, had been give three months to quit, and predicted its departure with the loss of ten jobs would threaten Prestwick’s recovery.

He said: “This devastating and unwarranted state intervention in a functioning competitive marketplace not only deprives me of my business, and my locally-based employees of their livelihoods, but also puts at risk countless more [businesses] and people that depend on the business we bring to Prestwick and the wider area.”

He said Landmark, which employs around 15 people, was expected to take its Prestwick business to other airports.

He said: “We believe it will make it significantly more difficult for ministers to make a commercial success of Prestwick.

“There must be serious doubts that the present management team, in place throughout the recent and near fatal decline of the airport’s passenger and freight business, has the capability to improve on the success of two well-known and recognised industry specialists.

“This move will only distract the airport’s management team from focusing on delivering more airlines, passengers and freight to Prestwick, and undermine the chances of the airport’s long-term survival.

“It is anti-competitive for the airport company to terminate the leases of two competitor businesses in order for the owners to take over that business and consequently to benefit from a monopoly position in ground-handling services.”

Aye, the management team are making friends everywhere. :ugh::ugh::D

Agreed, this seems a strange one. While PIK has some advantages in terms of location and traffic, the ferry business is as much about personnel relationships and service levels (and fuel prices!), so if Greer and Landmark move elsewhere, I'm sure they will take some of their business with them.

Nicola Sturgeon has just told the Parliament that it's up to the airport management to make their own plans and she can't go into detail on what they might be announcing with Trump on Friday

unlike Nicola not to blow her own Trump-et

I am guessing Trump is looking for some free publicity, probably basing his helicopter and 757 at PIK to service the Aberdeen and Turnberry golf resorts.
He is not buying the airport.

that is a terrifying concept :eek:

I see the Nippie Sweetie has said Prestwick is in a strong position to be the UK's spaceport. Well Nicola, I hope you will be at the head of the queue.

There are 5 other Scottish airports in the running along with Newquay and Llanbeder.

From an operational perspective, I would have thought PIK is in a position that would mean launch and recovery of spaceplanes would cause disruption in transatlantic flights?

I think the helicopter is already based and partially crewed from 'PK anyway, so that won't be much of an announcement.

New chairman announced andrew millar former boss of air new zealand and press conference friday with the trumpster and ian cochrane. Interesting.

Er, just wait and see, Friday is just 2 days away....... Funny how the same people blast the management, do any of you actually know who the entire current management team @ PIK really are and how hard they have to work? Do you know what talks have/are taking place - all of them? We should all just be happy something is actually happening, definately not as fast as some would like though..eh? Bring on the flak, that`s what usually happens when someone speaks positively about PIK on here! Also makes me laugh how GLA & EDI airport heads are concerned PIK has some sort of advantage and is going to poach all their traffic, get real - hows that going to actually ever going to happen? PIK has it`s place, everyone will have a different vision in their heads - of what that is. That`s life...

Zulu Kilo: You're surely not suggesting that a few thousand travellers would object to orbiting Newcastle for a few hours to allow Richard Branson to fly Donald Trump round the moon for fun? We should be indebted to these people for lowering themselves to give us a few jobs as chauffeurs.
NS

Landmark would do well to move into EDI and give Signature a run for their money. I've never known such an expensive handling company (Signature)....

Depending on the jet-stream location on the day, any 'spaceplane' launch/recovery along an arc between Land's End and Lerwick could potentially disrupt the North Atlantic traffic-flow.

The departures board appears to show only one passenger flight in and out on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, is this quieter than expected? Is the airport going to be this quiet till summer timetable in April?

bb

Prestwick (Greer and Landmark eviction)
 

Just heard a rumor that Eddie Allison may be working with Prestwick Airport management again!!!
Does anyone know if this is true?

The invite that went to top business leaders for tomorrow (Friday) at 11 am is to "the launch of an exciting new partnership between Prestwick Airport and the Trump Organisation"

Yes, and Sturgeon yesterday told the Parliament that they would be adjusting staff levels to align with the winter schedules.

Talking to a friend tonight who works for Ryanair at PIK and he reckons the announcement will be an airline operating between the USA and Prestwick.

I'm personally less than convinced about this, but less than a day till we find out...

I can see it being a summer series of golf related pax charters !