Glasgow Council to offer airlines taxpayers money?

[Joe Curry]

The front page of today's Glasgow Evening Times is an abomination!!

[http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/cgi-bin/page?id=5007811&t=newspapers.news]

From now on, our children will sit in their classrooms and learn all about the "Glasgow Clearances", it seems! Mr Leask has surpassed himself. The academics and politicians who endorse this rubbish are beyond belief!!

It also appears that Glasgow City Council is to offer taxpayers money as a bribe to lure the low-cost airlines to GLA.

[http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/cgi-bin/page?t=newspapers.news&id=5007838]

No mention of whether EDI is in the running. If BAA are on the case, one suspects EDI don't stand a chance of securing either MyTravelLite or bmibaby. If they actually succeed in bringing both to GLA, serious questions will no doubt be asked!!

I'm sure the citizens of Glasgow will be delighted that their taxes are being directed towards an inter-city point-scoring exercise!

One has to wonder how many Glaswegians will actually be able to take advantage of any new routes that emerge from this. I'm sure they would rather the money was spent on schools, housing, roads etc.

[Sheep fancier]

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but were Continental not being lured to Turnhouse with Scottish Executive cash, i.e. the _Scottish_ (and UK) Taxpayer?
You disagree with Glasgow's citizens paying something towards an Airport which primarily serves Glasgow and it's dormitory towns and villages and fail to make comment on this 'hand out' to COA for EDI?
Make your mind up.

[Blue Boy]

Joe,

Let's go through your post:

1) The Evening Times is an evening newspaper printed in Glasgow, for Glaswegians and the surrounding towns. (Strangely, the same people who would benefit from another Airline serving EGPF).

2) The BAA is a publicly listed company, with shareholders. Of course they want to attract extra customers to use their facilities, instead of independent airport's like PIK, NCL or MAN. This practice is usually known by those in the know as 'Business'. Since the article suggests that the money is only being provided by Glasgow City Council, I think your BAA conspiracy theory goes right out of the window at this moment.

3) Glaswegian tax payers money going on an 'inter city point scoring exercise'. I don't really think that it is, think about it for a second: This is what could be called an 'investment', spend a little promoting the airport serving your City, get more services, thus increasing revenue, and that initial outlay is repayed. Fairly simple. I'll also refer you to 'Sheep Fanciers' post regarding Continental - Things are very different when the shoe is on the other foot, isn't it?

4) I can't comment on how many Glaswegians would benefit from increased services from EGPF, although I'm sure that the Scottish population as a whole would benefit from having an increased range of European destinations from it's main Airport, and not having to travel down south.

[canberra]

when will the good citizens of central scotland see sense? i estimate that the population of central scotland is approx 4 million. why therefore do they need 3 airports? why dont they close edninburgh and glasgow and just use prestwick? i think i'll get off this site before i get irate emails from glasgow and edinburgh!

[Sheep fancier]

A tongue in cheek comment I assume.;) Of course if PIK were killed off by BAA 12 years ago then GLA's dominance would have been even more prominent than it is now.
I reckon you'd be talking 9-10 million pax pa at GIA if PIK had been put to the sword.
But personally I'm glad it's still there as it stimulates the market in the west and keeps BAA on their toes I'm sure.:)
BAA blew it in the early 90's when they couldn't give RYR the deal they wanted at GLA.
Still, always PIA, Emirates etc etc to look forward to.;)