AIR 8-9 16/6/09 16:59 Page 45
ttglive.com
air knowledge
Regional report
Airports
wait for
a revival
As airlines drop routes
and cut capacity to ride
out the recession, how
However, many regional airports are extend the runway so it can operate flights
have regional airports pressing on with plans to improve facilities to the US west coast and the Far East.
been affected? Chris Gray
for when the economy revives.
gets the latest from airports
In the meantime, they are targeting the Peel Airports (Liverpool, Durham
trade to help them persuade customers to fly and Doncaster)
around the country from their local airport. Liverpool’s passengers were down 20% this
spring and it has suffered from Ryanair
A
fter a decade of growth, regional Birmingham cutting capacity by 14%.
airports have been at the sharp Birmingham had the biggest increase of all But a new KLM connection to Amsterdam
end of the downturn as they are UK airports last year, with a 4.8% increase in has now given it a direct link into a sched-
first in line when airlines cut passenger numbers to 9.6 million over 2007. uled carrier’s worldwide network.
back. Carriers tend to drop flights from In 2009, monthly figures are down 7% Peel is investing £150 million in Liverpool
smaller airports first and safeguard their on 2008, but Birmingham has not lost any to create a bigger shopping area, new security
routes at international hubs. carriers and announced new routes this year. area and new equipment to reduce queues.
The trend has seen Manchester losing US Airways started a Philadelphia service It should be finished by autumn 2010.
long-haul flights and connections to London in May. Monarch added its 11th route to Durham’s passenger numbers are down
as British Airways and BMI slash capacity. Larnaca, and BMI Regional started an 12%, and it has lost Ryanair flights as well as
Other smaller airports such as Durham have Aberdeen service in March. Bmibaby started BMI’s daily link to Heathrow.
lost vital links to London. a Newquay service in May. But Durham and Doncaster are promoting
Regional airports have also been hit by On June 1 the airport launched a marketing to the trade their no-frills services and char-
increases in Air Passenger Duty, which have campaign aimed at 1,000 travel agents ters by Tui, Thomas Cook and other operators.
reduced airlines’ margins on routes that within a 90-minute drive. Peel this month launched dedicated agents’
were already struggling. The airport is building a £45 million sites for all three airports and launched an
Newcastle airport recently warned MPs extension that will allow it to accommodate incentive for Durham and Doncaster, offering
that APD increases could jeopardise its entire aircraft such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. £1,000 for every agent who books 10 passen-
programme (TTG June 5). It has been given planning permission to gers on each of six operators by July 12.
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