Very secure actually: using the top floor of the IKEA car park with barriers and carpark attendant seated at the only entrance.

BFS-LBA another APD victim? A return 40min flight each way 2x£12 before airport charges let alone operating costs against Flybe dash from BHD

This is an interesting one. If BFS/Leeds goes that leaves another significant gap in the domestic network from BFS alongside EMA, BHX. Surely this is starting to look meaty enough for Ryanair to make a return to the market, but then I suppose they would be arriving bag and baggage with Alicante, Palma, Murcia, Ibiza, Tenerife, Pisa, the works.

Sarcon

You referred last week to an article in the IN reporting the profits at the BCA had dropped to £15k during 2009, I dont think this is correct. If you look at the accounts filed for ANKA Acquisitions Ltd, the company that own BCA you will get the more complete picture. Dare say there are some people wishing it was -£15k.

Where do I find this report, is it available to the public?

I see BBC has picked up a story about both BFS and BHD concering profits..

BBC News - Belfast airports' profits squeezed as competition increases

These are fairly drastic profit figures for the Harbour, more than 95% drop in profits!!?? I would imagine Mr A and his senior team will have some serious questions to answer. Where has it all gone wrong and more importantly what are they going to do to get things back on track....

what belfast needs really is only 1 airport, either a major development at the int'l and the closure of the city, or a brand new airport close to belfast, there is acres of land available at the newly reclaimed land near Dargon, possible a domestic terminal ran by TBI and a int'l terminal ran by Albertis to ensure both companies dont lose out, but things are only going to get worse and the int'l is only going to get more run down

We have planners who can't even make a decision whether to let a store open at Sprucefield! Do you really think they have the guts to make a call to build another airport? Let's be realistic, it won't happen anytime soon.

If one airport fails commercially then that will point the way forward, I would be surprised if either airport went bust. I would still be curious to know where the Harbours profits have went though, anyone here in a position to tell? Could it be some form of tax dodge by Harbour, they are owned by a pension fund now, ANKA or something like that, there still seems to be money somewhere, last time I passed through they were starting work out front of terminal and the staff told me they were building an international arrivals area, that won't be cheap!

This exactly why NI needs devolved power to set it own aviation tax, sorry to keep banging on about APD, but it is hurting our economy, it's that simple!

The only way either airport could increase it passenger numbers would be to offer a subsidy to FR but that would now be far from easy, at BHD the runway length issue and now the seat cap would need to be resolved and at BFS it would be a huge risk in terms of what LS & Easy might do.

Short term loss of profitability at either airport is not of major concern provide it's short term and yes starting over you would only have one airport and neither site is ideal

It is time to close this thread. Feel free to start another using the same title.