Blackpool airport situated in the North West of England is shutting down. The airport has joined a list of other airports in the region that are struggling or that have closed down. Blackpool has issued a statement that it will close on the 15th of October spelling doom to both the employees but to also the town’s economic health. Blackpool’s story is one shared by many airports that are falling victims to the economic downturn, shifting airline networks and domestic taxation. Theirs is a situation of sustained struggles to make the numbers add up and to ensure at least sustainability is achieved in the running of the airports.
Low cost flying mode has expanded the overall airline passenger numbers but this has not helped smaller airports make any headwinds. Increase in taxation due to the economic downturn led to the drastic reduction in passenger numbers. This development affected smaller airports the most. Due to the small number of airlines that used them, it is not possible for them to hedge on the effects of the downturn. Consequently, Manston, Bristol Filton and Plymouth airports have already shut down while others such as Tiny Cambridge are about to see their only scheduled daily flights terminated.
With ever slimming margins airlines are ever seeking better deals from airports which continue to eat at the little revenues that airports are generating. Union leaders at Blackpool in the meantime have come out to urge the owners to reconsider their decision to shut down. 120 jobs that directly depend on the airport being open will be lost. This will spill over to the neighbouring community and town which is already struggling with high unemployment rates. The closure of Blackpool will deliver a big hit to the town’s economy and fly in the face of the governments urge for new investments in airport infrastructure in its bid to modernise air travel in the UK