Final flight from Plymouth as airline axes loss-making London link
PLYMOUTH'S last flight to Gatwick takes off at 4.30pm today.
The final flight back from the capital will land in Plymouth at 8.30pm.
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Eastern Airways, the new owners of the operator Air Southwest, has scrapped flights from Plymouth and Newquay to London Gatwick.
Sutton Harbour Holdings, which operates Plymouth City Airport, sold the airline to Eastern Airways last September.
Charles Howeson, chairman of the Plymouth Area Business Council, called for a "stay of execution" on axing the service.
He said the infrastructure platform and enabling links should be preserved "while we investigate all options including potential forms of subsidy".
However, Plymouth City Council said last week: "It would be hard to justify the council subsidising a commercial operation that is not being supported by passenger numbers."
Alison Seabeck, the Labour MP for Moor View, whose constituency covers the airport, said that direct subsidies were unlikely.
However, she said that a House of Commons Select Committee had discussed transport issues in 2009 and argued that there was a case for subsidised landing slots at London airports for regional airlines.
Peter Davies, managing director of Air Southwest, said: "As we have already made clear, the Gatwick route was no longer viable as a result of falling revenues and increasing costs."
It is believed the link was the operator's main loss-making route, and a hike in landing fees at Gatwick of 18 per cent appeared to seal its fate.
The city council last week gave its support to a call by David Parlby, chief executive of Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, for an independent study into the options available for effective air services for Plymouth.
Mr Parlby said last night: "I am pleased that the city council wants to do the study and it is my intention to help them to define the brief.
"I shall probably start doing that next week.
"It is important to get a clear set of terms of reference to make sure the right sorts of questions are being asked.
He said the key issues to get across included scotching the idea that the airport runway could be extended to take Jumbo jets.
"It's a short runway, and not many airlines run the sorts of lanes that could land there.
"Plymouth is also in an unusual position with three airports close together in a small catchment area."
Sutton Harbour Holdings, which operates Plymouth City Airport on a 150-year lease from Plymouth City Council, has said it is considering selling off its interest in the airport.
7 Comments
by Ian H, Chaddlewood
Monday, January 31 2011, 10:09PM
“With people like Peter Gripaios giving up, its no wonder Plymouth as a whole is in the fertiliser, thats it then, we just give up, roll over lay down and die & watch all the infrastructure and wealth and businesses go to Exeter, as a Plymothian this makes me sick with anger. Myself and Sid Anning had a 2 hour meeting last week with David Draffan from Plymouth City Council as we are citizens deeply concerned about our airport. I wont say anymore as we promised David not to divulge any info. All we can say is that we are pretty disgusted with the lack of fight shown by prominent people who run this city and clearly demonstrate a total lack of ambition and vision and we are destined to become a backwater, cut off from the rest of the UK and Europe with ever increasing unemployment unless a miracle happens, RIP Plymouth.”
by MendipMan, Wurzel Country
Monday, January 31 2011, 9:04PM
“Rumours are spreading on aviation websites that an announcement may soon be forthcoming about a link from the West Country to Stansted.
It seems that Air Southwest is featured.
It is highly unlikely to involve Bristol and probably not Exeter on the grounds that they are too close and well connected by land to the capital.
Watch this space.
Perhaps the Herald might like to do some digging around.”
by blueskycynic, Plymouth
Monday, January 31 2011, 2:48PM
“At least Ms Seabeck wlll be able to claim more overnight expenses (in a transparent manner of course).”
by John, Plymouth
Monday, January 31 2011, 12:02PM
“What I would like to know is whats happened to the money from the sale of land to pay for the infrastucture rebuild obviously not going to start now
. Also SHH sell ASW to Eastern then almost immediately Eastern pull the Plymouth - Newcastle flights.
SHH then announce they might sell the airport.
Eastern then announce the Gatwick service is to cease and put up 3 of their dash aircraft up for disposal and base one at Aberdeen leaving the airline with one.
All this within a matter off months so it certainly doesnt look good for Plymouth Airport.
As I have said on many occassions its time to stop paying out for stupid studys and either back the airport and get on with doing the works that is required to bring it upto spec or dispose of it. SIMPLE.”
by Boris Napper, Eddystone Lighthouse
Monday, January 31 2011, 10:43AM
“The Plymouth Chamber of Commerce still want to commision a study...
How many times do they require the obvious to be bloody stated?!”
by Brian, Plymouth
Monday, January 31 2011, 10:28AM
“From the BBC Devon news website http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-12321528 Professor Peter Gripaios from the University of Plymouth said he believed the airport's days were "probably numbered".
He said: "It's never really had enough of a catchment area. The population isn't really big enough - you need about four million people in an area.
"It's being squeezed by flights into Newquay and Exeter, and even more probably by the fact that Easjyet and Ryanair have loads and loads of flights going out of Bristol."
Say no more.”
by Boris Napper, Eddystone Lighthouse
Monday, January 31 2011, 10:04AM
“Happiness is V1 at PLH :)”