English airport that hopes to restart passenger flights reveals plans for new £616k terminal
A UK airport has revealed its plans for a new £600k terminal – with hopes it could lead to scheduled flights again.
Blackpool Airport operated flights to Europe back in 2012, flying to seven destinations in Spain and Portugal.
Sadly the passenger terminal was demolished in 2016.
But a new £616,000 terminal is set to go ahead, with the works given to contractor.
The new terminal will include a larger arrival and departure lounge, as well as new security and baggage equipment.
It hopes that the new additions will allow the airport to welcome larger flights in the next few year.
This is set to be initially private charters to UK football teams, local media confirmed.
And in the next three to five years, a new purpose built facility will replace the terminal permanently, on the west side of the airport.
It says: “The new larger facility also gives the airport the ability to ‘test’ the market in respect of the enquires received for additional executive and scheduled flights, which will allow the development of the new purpose built premises to be designed and constructed with a greater level of detail.”
While the the airport’s managing director Steve Peters said it was “unlikely” to happen in the near future, it is hoped this could also mean larger scheduled flights, such as domestic routes.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh previously said they would “absolutely look if there is an appetite for commercial flights from Blackpool Airport and there is the demand there”.
In the mean time, locals in Blackpool’s nearest airport is Liverpool, around 30 miles away.
Having first opened in 1909, the airport closed back in 2014, before being bought later that year.
It then operated routes to Isle of Man and Belfast in 2015.
Just 39,000 flights operated from Blackpool Airport last year, mainly for flying lessons and private flights.
Blackpool Airport isn’t the only UK airport set to relaunch flights.
Doncaster Sheffield could restart flights in the next 18 months, after being forced to close in 2022.
TUI has expressed interest in launching flights again, which could be to Cyprus, Spain and Poland.
A spokesperson previously said: “We’re excited about actively engaging with stakeholders about a potential re-opening”.
What are the smallest UK airports?
These are the airports in the UK that cater for the fewest passengers a year:
- Humberside – 136,976
- Southend – 146,072
- Teesside – 226,557
- Norwich – 357,852
- Newquay – 408,870
Kent’s Manston Airport also wanted to relaunch flights, although would initially be cargo planes before leading to passenger flights.
And Plymouth Airport has also expressed hopes to one day have commercial flights.