Holiday flights will not return to resort airport

Corporate flight operators are said to favour Blackpool because of its discretion and close motorway links

Bosses at Blackpool Airport are ruling out the return of commercial holiday flights in favour of more corporate journeys.

The Squires Gate hub has also said the restoration of regional passenger routes to places such as Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man remain "four to five years away".

The Blackpool Council-owned airport said it was instead shaping itself into the preferred option for corporate jets arriving for business meetings across Lancashire and the wider region.

Managing director Steve Peters said it was working to secure the future of the airport, which only a few years ago was heading for permanent closure.

He said: “The brutal reality of airport economics doesn’t stack up for Blackpool in terms of the return of large-scale commercial operations."

'More discretion'

There are currently five pilot training operators on the airport site, a busy offshore helicopter terminal, and a company poised to base its corporate aircraft at Blackpool.

Many of the key elements which were holding back development have now been resolved – not least the training and recruitment of air traffic controllers and recruitment of firefighters, the airport said.

In previous years the airport had to close to traffic because of shortages in these key areas – but now it offers reliable air space and boasts 40,000 movements a year.

Plans to invest in infrastructure are also moving ahead, with proposals for new office buildings including a passenger handling facility for up to 45 people recently approved by Fylde Council.

It is hoped that will be built by next spring.

Proposals to develop the east side of the airport with new hangers are also due to be decided soon.

The scheme also includes a new air traffic control tower and fire-fighting facility, with Blackpool Council providing substantial investment.

The corporate market is one of the main drivers of success with owners said to prefer Blackpool over neighbours Manchester and Liverpool because it can offer more discretion, is convenient for the motorway network and there are no limitations on parking aircraft.