Blackpool Airport set to close within two weeks

Blackpool Airport is set to close within two weeks if no buyer can be found.

The airport has confirmed that if no agreement can be reached before 7 October 2014, which ensures the viability of its operations, then it is likely that the airport operations will close.

On 28 August 2014, it was announced that a buyer was being sought for the airport operating company. The airport operations have been making a loss for a number of years and options are currently being explored in an attempt to secure the future of the airport.

With Balfour Beatty's deadline for reaching agreement over the future of Blackpool International Airport fast approaching, Cllr John Jones, Blackpool Council's cabinet member for highways and transport, has today released a further statement.

Cllr Jones said: “As we’ve said from the outset, following the announcement of the potential closure of Blackpool International Airport, what we want is the best possible economic outcome for the area in terms of jobs for local people.

“We have been very clear in saying we would like it to remain an airport and would be doing everything we could to try to ensure that is the case.

“We believe the airport has underperformed in terms of its contribution on the Blackpool economy.

“There is much untapped potential in the site and we will work with any new owner to bring this potential to bear.

“We have already been speaking to the LEP, LCC and Fylde Councils about the possibility of extending the current Enterprise Zones in Lancashire to include the airport and we together we will work with the new owners to make the case to the Government.

“Fylde Council and ourselves have planning control over the site and we have been very clear with Balfour Beatty and all other interested parties about the uses we would support.

“As Balfour Beatty have said, there is interest in the airport, some of which we’re very much aware of and which we’ve done what we can to encourage.

“These negotiations are, of course, commercially sensitive and, quite rightly, not being carried out in the public domain.

“While Balfour Beatty are the owners and any decision regarding disposal is theirs alone, we will use the powers and influence we do have to make the site the kind of key driver of economic growth that we need and can be proud of.

“We will now work with Balfour Beatty as well as Fylde and Wyre Councils, to maximise the value of the site to the Fylde coast and look at how it can contribute to creating jobs and supplying and complementing industry.”