Commercially run airport ‘good news’
Thursday 15th April 2010, 2:29PM BST.
GUERNSEY Airport could ‘blossom’ if commercialised, Aurigny has said.
The States-owned airline welcomed news that the Public Services Department plans to raise the issue of commercialisation with the Assembly.
Flybe also believes that the airport would benefit hugely from such a move.
Aurigny managing director Malcolm Hart said: ‘Other airports have blossomed when allowed to be commercially managed.’
Flybe not only backed PSD’s plan but offered its services to help with a transition to commercialisation.
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Commercialising the airport will indeed benefit the airport greatly as Malcolm Hart has stated. But mark my words – and please do make a note of this date – if Guernsey folk allow it to happen, ‘commercialising’ the airport will destroy the current way of life for anyone living within miles of the airport. Noise, pollution, and traffic will see to that. For the record, I know of that which I speak. Not realising that it would ‘expand’, years ago I moved fairly close to a small airfield built to accomodate aircraft during WW2. Now, that airfield has become an ‘International Airport’ with hundreds of flights day and night, the noise deaffening, the pollution sickening. So stop it happening now, while you still can.
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well said, chaps, always a good idea to start kissing the *ss of the potential new ‘owners’, just in case they’re listening…;0)
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Commercialisation of mainland airports has lead to rapid expansion of some, for example Bristol, but here our airports are not holiday gateways they are essential services, the motorways to our islands, and need to be run for the benefit of all.
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OK then, so by this we can assume that if the airport is commercialised it will be successful! Lest we forget Aurigny was a none state owned outfit before it failed and had to become Lyndon Airways, owned by the States Of Guernsey. So do we then commercialise the airport, it then fails due to Firemen’s strikes, Volcanic eruptions and fog, plus a sub standard runway, then the States come in and buy it back at a huge loss and expense to the taxpayer!? It may be successful elsewhere but rarely does it work in Guernsey!
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I can’t see how Guernsey Aiport would be that viable for a commercial business anyway.
There’s no real room for expansion and history has shown that routes to more ‘exotic’ locations such as Amsterdam don’t last.
Also, unlike mainland airports who can attract service users from outside their immediate locality, Guernsey has a small client base for passengers.
How will any business stand to make a profit out of it after they’ve shelled out the millions it would presumably cost to buy? I’m no expert I admit but I’d be interested to know.
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