Blackpool Airport
Blackpool International Airport | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Blackpool Airport Ltd | ||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Blackpool | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 34 ft / 10 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 53°46′17″N 003°01′42″W / 53.77139°N 3.02833°W | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | www.blackpoolinternational.com | ||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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Blackpool International Airport (IATA: BLK, ICAO: EGNH) is a small international airport, 2.6 nautical miles (4.8 km) southeast of Blackpool, Lancashire in North West England.
The airport was owned and operated by City Hopper Airports Limited, which also owns Wolverhampton Airport and Biella Airport in Italy, but is under new management after one of its two major shareholders bought out its partner. MAR Properties Ltd has agreed terms to take over full control of Blackpool and Wolverhampton Airports [1].
Blackpool Airport Limited has a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P724) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction.
Several scheduled airlines operate from the airport, as well as chartered holiday flights in summer months. Helicopter operations serve north west England’s Irish Sea offshore gas facilities.
Passenger numbers have recently increased sharply, from 377,000 during 2005 to 553,000 in the year to December 2006. Low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and Jet2.com have seen strong potential in Blackpool, bringing increasing passenger numbers.
History
The airport site's first aviation use was in October 1909, when the UK's first official public Flying Meeting was held on a specially laid out site at Squires Gate, followed by another in 1910. Small UK airlines used the airfield during the 1930s. During World War II, Vickers operated an aircraft production facility, producing several thousand Wellington bombers.
By 1949, the airfield was controlled by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and renamed Blackpool Airport. In the mid 1950s, Hawker Hunter jet fighters were produced in the WW2 factory at the north-east edge of the airfield.
Since then the airport has been steadily expanding, accommodating helicopter operations for British Gas, and attracting scheduled flights from budget airlines, Jet2 and Ryanair and also scheduled services by smaller operators to the Isle of Man. Since WW2, Squires Gate has also been a thriving centre for private, club and general aviation.
In 2005, Jet2.com became the first major low cost airline to base an aircraft at Blackpool Airport. This created around 50 new jobs and boosted passenger numbers. It now serves seven destinations from the airport - six in Spain and the Canaries (Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Murcia, Tenerife, Málaga) (Faro). Jet2 also offers a domestic service to Belfast
Also in 2005, Monarch Airlines set up a new route to Malaga, three times a week. After a year though the airline ceased services, blaming low passenger numbers as the reason. However Jet2.com had earlier announced that it would be operating flights to Malaga.
British North West Airlines, the smallest airline based at Blackpool has now, according to its website, stopped trading for both charter and scheduled flights. The website links all viewers to the fast growing airline, Manx2, which is now flying the route up to four times a day. Manx2 has brought low fares to the Isle of Man route, and passenger numbers on this route doubled in January 2007.
With the growth of the airport a new carrier, the ACMI company, Jetstream Executive, operating under the name, Jetstream Express,are to introduce flights from the airport to Belfast City Airport from (May), Aberdeen Airport (from June) and Southampton Airport (from July). The Belfast route is in competition with Jet2, who operate twice daily between Blackpool and Belfast International. Two Jetstream 31s will be based at the airport. However, in June 2007 a notice appeared on the Jetsteam Express website stating - "With immediate effect, Jetstream Express have ceased operating the routes to Blackpool, Aberdeen, Southampton and Belfast", adding that all flights were withdrawn as the routes have not proved viable.
In 2007 Jet2 cancelled its Prague and Amsterdam services. Ryanair also cancelled its twice daily flights to London Stansted stating that it fell into the bottom three routes across its network.
Refurbishment
In February 2006, the airport completed an investment of £2 million in refurbishing the airport terminal and car parks. The improvements included more check-in desks, new eating facilities, a new information desk, an open-plan departure lounge, more gates, new shopping facilities, an executive lounge, a new flight information system, an additional baggage reclaim belt and a new interior colour scheme and logo. A new long stay car park was created while the existing area was extended. Later in 2006 the aircraft parking area was extended and in the next 5 years it is rumoured that the other small stands that are currently leased to other companies at the airport, will not be re-leased to them and that a new terminal will be built instead.
Airlines and destinations
- Jet2.com (Alicante, Belfast-International, Faro, Málaga, Murcia, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife-South [re-instated October 2007])
- Manx2 (Belfast-City, Isle of Man)
- Ryanair (Dublin, Girona)
- Thomsonfly (Alicante [seasonal])
Charter destinations include: Malta, Italy, Madeira etc.
Transport
- Rail - Squires Gate railway station. Direct Northern Rail Sprinter trains to Blackpool South, Preston and Colne (East Lancashire).
- Bus - Blackpool Transport bus services 1, 5, 7, 11, 16 and Stagecoach service 68 stop near the airport with routes to Blackpool and as far as Fleetwood (northbound) and Lytham St Annes and Preston (southbound).
- Tram Blackpool transport tram services are available from Starr Gate tram stop on the Blackpool tramway, running along the promenade, along the Golden Mile northward to Bispham, Cleveleys and Fleetwood.
- Taxis - free telephone located inside the terminal building.
See also
External links
References
- ^ Airliner World January 2007