13 October, 2014

Blackpool Airport to Close

Blackpool Airport will close down next Wednesday, 15th October, owners Balfour Beatty, which purchased the airport for £14m in 2008 announced last week. They put the loss making airport back on the market in August, saying losses of £1.5m were unsustainable. 

The firm warned that if a decent offer wasn’t forthcoming by 7 October then it would have to close the venture down. Sadly for the airport’s 110 staff, as well as dozens of  those indirectly employed because of the airport, there were no offers. The wartime relic remained unwanted, built to accommodate 1.5m passengers each year which only attracted 235,000 in 2013, despite the fact it was voted third best regional airport by the Which? guide earlier this summer.

As the deadline passed Balfour Beatty issued a statement confirming the airport would close on 15th October, “a very sad day for the airport, which has a proud aviation history and a loyal, appreciative customer following.” the statement says.
Jet2 have already moved almost all of its flights to Manchester and City Wing, which operates flights to Blackpool from the Isle of Man and Belfast, will halt the services when the airport shuts next week. Aer Lingus will also stop its Dublin-Blackpool shuttle on Wednesday. 

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