Airport

Gatwick boss accuses Heathrow of "empty promises" over Plymouth airport


THE boss of Gatwick Airport has urged Plymouth not to be swayed by “empty promises” from Heathrow.

After Chancellor George Osborne revealed the Government would launch a study into the future viability of Plymouth City Airport, the company behind Heathrow unveiled a package to examine whether its air link to the city could reopen.

But now Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate has joined the debate, saying any fresh announcements should be “treated with caution”.

“Gatwick already serves more regional destinations than Heathrow where domestic services have been progressively cut back,” Mr Wingate said.

“Heathrow has made many promises in the past but like other significant pledges made by the company, these proposals will likely come to nothing.

“Creating a new Heathrow monopoly would be bad news and a backwards step for the South West.

“It will certainly undermine direct routes to and from the nations and regions, while adding costs to the travel plans of every passenger and every business.

Independent research by Quod, commissioned by Heathrow and based on economic analysis by the Airports Commission, shows an expanded Heathrow would benefit the South West, with the region expected to receive up to £10 billion in economic growth and 12,300 new jobs.

But Mr Wingate pointed to a separate report, from the OECD, which said an expanded Heathrow would discourage more flights to other UK airports.

“Gatwick already has direct links with the South West via Newquay Airport and our message to the region’s travellers and businesses is clear: Gatwick expansion means more choice and competition, creating new routes, low fares and better customer service,” Mr Wingate added.

Viable calls for Government to announce Plymouth-airport study before General Election

The organisation which wants to reopen Plymouth City Airport has said the Government should waste no time announcing details of a study into its viability.

Viable, a company set up by city businesses and citizens wanting to preserve the airport, said the Government should reveal who will carry out the study before May's General Election.

Chancellor George Osborne last week told Sutton and Devonport's Tory MP Oliver Colvile that the Government would undertake a study into the viability of reopening the airport, closed since December 2011.

Viable has now written to Mr Colvile and Moor View's Labour MP Alison Seabeck calling for immediate progress.

"It's important the study is robust, thorough and undertaken by appropriately qualified consultants," said Viable director Richard Crocker. "We would like the Government to make a clear commitment on the scope of the study, who will undertake it, who is paying for it and what parties will be involved in its development.

"We would like a decision on this to be made before the election campaign starts because there is cross-party support for the principle of Plymouth Airport reopening.

"What we need now is everyone working together to make that happen."

The main points that Viable want the study to address are:

A review of the remaining barriers to reopening Plymouth Airport and investigation of how they can be overcome.

An examination of all the factors that have changed since the airport was closed in 2011.

The economic benefits of a reopened airport.

Interim and long-term solutions to provide improved hub connectivity.

A roadmap setting out options and the steps to be taken to end Sutton Harbour Holdings plc's "occupation" of the airport site.

An examination of Viable's Business Plan and how the Government could assist in implementing it.

Viable wants Plymouth City Council to acquire SHH's interest in the long lease of the 113-acre site by negotiation.

Viable believes the involvement of Government means additional options may now be available to bring the site back into public control.

Since the airport closed Viable has been holding monthly meetings to keep the public and interested parties informed.

Viable's mission has to develop a costed and sustainable plan for the reopening of the airport and it has been engaging with consultants in the aviation industry to build a plan for its future.

Just yesterday, bosses at Heathrow Airport said that if the London airport is given permission to expand it will look to invest £10million into regional South West airports, including Plymouth.

Viable has welcomed the Heathrow announcement and said it should be included in the proposed Government study.

"Whatever solution is proposed for hub capacity in the South East, it's got to work for the whole country," said Mr Crocker.

"This sounds like an attractive offer, but Heathrow is amongst a range of options being considered by the Davies Commission. Whatever the Commission recommends it will be many years before new hub capacity is available. In the meantime there are a range of options available to re-connect Plymouth's air links to London immediately."

However, Jason Schofield, chief executive of SHH, last week called the Chancellor's proposed study "a waste of taxpayers' money" and said: "Every independent report commissioned before and since the airport closed nearly three and half years ago has demonstrated beyond all doubt that it is not viable."

Sounds like Gatwick doesn't want any competition for its Newquay slots.

Air southwest flew Plymouth via Newquay, there were more people on the Plymouth side of the flight, I flew it many times.

How hard up for a story is the Herald becoming.


Gatwick put on bomb alert after wading into Plymouth Airport row


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Tgwu wrote:

How hard up for a story is the Herald becoming.


Gatwick put on bomb alert after wading into Plymouth Airport row


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Jesus Christ, I know the Herald are desperate for us to click on their links, but sensationalising a headline to make it sound like there is an actual link between a Plymouth Airport story and a bomb alert, is desperately amateur.

Build a large helipad at Laira.

'Credible plan' to reopen Plymouth airport will be revealed next week.


CAMPAIGNERS aiming to reopen Plymouth’s airport will take the issue national as they prepare to make a significant announcement about their plans to reintroduce flights.

Members of Viable, the company set up to re-establish an air link, are due to be interviewed by the BBC’s Justin Webb, in Plymouth, for Radio Four’s flagship Today programme.


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pepsipete wrote:

Build a large helipad at Laira.

or HHP

Bournemouth = Airport or Success.

Plymouth = No Airport or No Success.

zyph wrote:

Bournemouth = Airport or Success.

Plymouth = No Airport or No Success.

Wrong thread = Pissed or Tired

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Les Miserable wrote:

zyph wrote:

Bournemouth = Airport or Success.

Plymouth = No Airport or No Success.

Wrong thread = Pissed or Tired

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Obviously too subtle for you then.....

If it makes you feel better, yeah

FlyPlymouth vows to reopen Plymouth City Airport within two years

CAMPAIGNERS have pledged to reopen Plymouth’s airport within two years and create a new airline bringing in passenger flights within three.

Members of the Viable group, set up to re-establish an air link to the city, outlined ambitious plans at a post-general election public meeting at the University of St Mark and St John.

They intend to create a social enterprise called FlyPlymouth which will reopen the facility and reintroduce passenger services.

They envisage daily flights to London as key.

And they are banking on the support of the new Tory Government to help them do it, after transport minister Patrick McLoughlin last month said public money could be used to reinstate passenger flights to Plymouth.

Viable said it means the end of its campaign to “save” Plymouth airport, begun when the airport’s closure was announced in 2011.

With the 113-acre site protected from development in the proposed Plymouth Plan, the campaign now moves on with FlyPlymouth focusing efforts on acquiring a short lease on the site. Currently Sutton Harbour Holdings has a long lease on the site.

FlyPlymouth also outlined an intention to raise £150,000 immediately, to get the ball rolling, while it worked on securing a “separate multi-million pound package” to reopen the airstrip and begin flights.

Raoul Witherall, FlyPlymouth’s chief executive, used the public meeting to set out the company’s vision which would see the airport reopened within two years and a new airline created within three.

“Viable set out in 2011 to carry the flag for those who wished to see Plymouth rethink its approach to air connectivity,” he said. “The objective was to save Plymouth airport from redevelopment and now that objective has been largely achieved with the airport’s protection in the Plymouth Plan.

“It is time now for Plymouth to focus on reopening its airport and connecting with the world.

“For this we need a new vehicle, one that can deliver on reopening the airport, creating a new airline and partnering together with Plymouth to achieve this – FlyPlymouth is that vehicle.”

He described FlyPlymouth as a locally-based social enterprise focused on providing aviation services.

“Being constituted as a company limited by guarantee means profits will be recycled into the business rather than being extracted by private shareholders,” he said. “We are seeking a short lease rather than securing freehold interests which have the potential to destabilise the business.

“These factors will contribute to a sustainable solution that is right for Plymouth airport.”

Richard Crocker, FlyPlymouth’s chief operating officer, said he believed a new airline would succeed, despite SHH saying the airport was not commercially viable when it closed.

“Rather than going for another low-cost volume model, our plans for the airport and airline are adapted to the facilities that exist and needs of the proven passenger market,” he said. “We have a stepped plan that is designed to be profitable at each stage.

“By 2018, a new airline will provide daily services to a range of destinations including London,” he said.

FlyPlymouth said both London Heathrow and Gatwick airports have recently expressed interest in supporting the reopening of Plymouth airport.

FlyPlymouth now aims to raise £150,000 “seed money” during the coming months to deliver essential pre-revenue work.

Funded largely out of business and private contributions, the company said this will enable vital preparation such as the detailed business planning, due diligence and legal support required to reopen the airport.

The airport and airline business plans are to be financed through a separate multi-million pound package accessed at a later stage once the business has secured a lease, FlyPlymouth said.

The airport, at Derriford, closed in 2011 when long-leaseholder SHH activated an “Armageddon clause”, telling freehold-owner Plymouth City Council it was not commercially viable to continue flights.

SHH continues to view the land as an important site for development, and wants to sell the lease.

The company has consistently stressed that the airport is “dead” and mothballing the site will prevent regeneration of a strategic city asset for at least 20 years.

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Airport new web site


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CAMPAIGNERS pledging to reopen Plymouth's airport have eclipsed their £10,000 target - more than a month ahead of schedule.

Members of Fly Plymouth, formally known as the Viable group, set up a Crowdfunder page - an online fundraising site - earlier this month with the aim of securing £10,000 by July 6.

But with donations continuing to pour in, some from as far afield as Barbados, organisers were delighted to confirm that the target had been met yesterday.

A spokesperson for Fly Plymouth told The Herald: "The expectation was that it would take much longer to achieve.

"We have a deadline in place for July 6, but we have managed to raise more than £10,000 in just 17 days since launching. We are all absolutely over the moon with the response.

"The Crowdfunder campaign has been picked up in a number of aviation magazines and has even managed to attract support from someone out in Barbados.

"Since the revamp earlier this month, our new website has had more than 20,000 unique visits and our Crowdfunder page has had more than 7,000."

Campaigners are optimistic that Plymouth airport, which was closed in December 2011 by leaseholder Sutton Harbour Holdings Plc, can be reopened within two to three years and will provide daily flights to London.

The plans have proven immensely popular with members of the public since the launch at the start of May and with more than five weeks left until the fundraising deadline, Fly Plymouth are confident they will be able to double their total and reach the £20,000 mark.

"It's gathering pace everyday," the spokesperson said.

"Crowdfunder have told us that, if we continue to attract the level of support we have so far, we are well on course to meet our overstretch target of £20,000.

"And, while we can't say who just yet, we can confirm that someone has agreed to match our fundraising figure.

"With this level of support, there's a good chance we might even reach a third of our total target which is £150,000!

"We are just so excited for the future of Plymouth airport

Pity it wasn't well patronised when it was open, might not be having this conversation.

Talk about flogging a dead horse, the West Country's airport is just outside Exeter, Get over it.

I going to Spain £140 from Bristol with one cabin case and a carry on bag,  £357 from Exe with one cabin bag, this is for two. Parking is cheaper. Even Bournemouth is cheaper by a long way.

Lord Tisdale wrote:

Talk about flogging a dead horse, the West Country's airport is just outside Exeter, Get over it.

i dont think that is disputed, we just need something to serve the uk to stop plymouth becoming more isolated as it is now.

might even have better luck attracting a better manager if he could fly home lol

Graiser wrote:

Pity it wasn't well patronised when it was open, might not be having this conversation.

I think it was well patronised whilst it had route slots into Heathrow but they lost those slots because Heathrow could get more business flying to and from elsewhere this in turn was due not to a lack of demand or patronage but a lack of capacity at Roborough.

Tgwu wrote:

I going to Spain £140 from Bristol with one cabin case and a carry on bag,  £357 from Exe with one cabin bag, this is for two. Parking is cheaper. Even Bournemouth is cheaper by a long way.

Fecking poor people.

Lord Tisdale wrote:

Tgwu wrote:

I going to Spain £140 from Bristol with one cabin case and a carry on bag,  £357 from Exe with one cabin bag, this is for two. Parking is cheaper. Even Bournemouth is cheaper by a long way.

Fecking poor people.

Nobody looks after us OAP's

Angry wants us kicked off bus now.

Tgwu wrote:

Lord Tisdale wrote:

Tgwu wrote:

I going to Spain £140 from Bristol with one cabin case and a carry on bag,  £357 from Exe with one cabin bag, this is for two. Parking is cheaper. Even Bournemouth is cheaper by a long way.

Fecking poor people.

Nobody looks after us OAP's

Angry wants us kicked off bus now.

too right walk more or catch it when the journey is far and not round the corner slowing everyone else up.

Tgwu wrote:

Lord Tisdale wrote:

Tgwu wrote:

I going to Spain £140 from Bristol with one cabin case and a carry on bag,  £357 from Exe with one cabin bag, this is for two. Parking is cheaper. Even Bournemouth is cheaper by a long way.

Fecking poor people.

Nobody looks after us OAP's

Angry wants us kicked off bus now.

What's a bus?