Blackpool Airport to close?

A closure notice is up at Blackpool International Airport, locally called Squires Gate.  A statement by the airport said if no sale agreement was reached by tomorrow (7 October), flights would only operate for a further week.

It claimed the facility has been "making a loss for a number of years".

Balfour Beatty, which bought the site in 2008, put it up for sale a month ago to end its involvement in running regional airports. (See BTN 8 September).  Sir Peter Rigby's Regional & City Airports could be a possible buyer. 

When the decision to sell the site was announced, the airport said it was "business as usual" and flights would continue. 

But the latest statement said: "We regretfully confirm 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.

"In this event, we expect that the last commercial flights will take place on Wednesday, 15 October 2014."

The airport apologised and advised any affected passengers to contact their airline to confirm travel arrangements.

About 110 staff are employed at the airport, which served some 235,000 passengers last year.  www.blackpoolinternational.com   www.jet2.com    

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