Blow for seaside town airport as holiday flights WON’T return – despite once having Jet2 routes to Spain
HOPES for holiday flights from a seaside town airport in the UK have been dashed.
Blackpool Airport is currently used for flight training as well as business and medical flights.
Just 39,000 flights operated from the airport last year.
But a huge new renovation project led to hopes that commercial flights abroad for passengers could be launched.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said they would “absolutely look if there is an appetite for commercial flights from Blackpool Airport and there is the demand there”.
However, the airport’s managing director Steve Peters has said this was very unlikely.
He said: “The brutal reality of airport economics doesn’t stack up for Blackpool in terms of the return of large-scale commercial operations.”
He added that their main goal was make the future of the airport secure, after nearly permanently closing just a few years ago.
The airport once had commercial flights – Jet2 operated from Blackpool Airport in 2012 with flights to Lanzarote and Ibiza.
However, the passenger terminal was demolished in 2016 with the Jet2 boss ruling out a return.
The current new upgrades include new admin and security building with an “enhanced arrivals and departures” area.
New security check points would also be introduced.
Mr Peters added: “This new facility will allow us to grow these executive flights by numbers of movements and increased aircraft size by offering more space as well as improved security.
“While a new building will provide a modern and welcoming environment that is more suitable as a first impression for departing or arriving visitors.”
Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Levelling Up (Place) Mark Smith also said: “We’re working hard to make sure that we can support an airport that is commercially successful and a leading transport hub, and one that drives the growth of our Enterprise Zone.”
Brits wanting to travel abroad from Blackpool will need to travel to Liverpool Airport, round 30 miles away.
It comes after new images were revealed of a £300million attraction hoping to open in Blackpool.
First announced in 2021, the plans include two small theme parks, with a 127,000sqft flying theatre, ides, laser tag and arcades.
What is it like to visit Blackpool?
Mum Catherine Lofthouse revealed why a seaside visit to Blackpool is the best for families.
“Whether you love a back-to-basics bucket-and-spade beach break, want a thrill a minute at one of the UK’s oldest theme parks or fancy a night on the tiles, there’s everything you need at Blackpool.
“Everywhere I look, there’s building taking place and existing attractions being spruced up.
“There’s been investment along the seafront, with Merlin, the company behind Alton Towers and Legoland, recently opening its eighth attraction in the town with the arrival of the Gruffalo Clubhouse for little ones.
“I’m hard-pressed to think of another UK seaside resort that has quite such a breadth of attractions for staycationers young and old.
Setting off home loaded with seaside goodies and sandy buckets, I think we had both fallen a little bit in love with this national treasure of a town.”
The complex, on the Golden Mile, will also have restaurants and bars along with an Artisan Food Hall.
New hotels and tram lines are also part of the seaside town’s renovation.
And the current Pleasure Beach theme park will open a new third hotel as well, connected to the casino.
Blackpool is even home to the UK’s largest indoor waterpark.
Sandcastle Waterpark, right by the beach, has the longest indoor water rollercoaster in the UK along with 17 other rides and slides.
Want to stay at Blackpool? We’ve found a hotel with rooms from £18 which makes it the UK’s cheapest hotel.