FlyerTon Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 If Ryanair move flights to Glasgow will they stay at Prestwick? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-28132683 They have a maintenance base at Prestwick and that is expected to stay. Future for Prestwick looking a bit bleak if Ryanair pull out. 11 flights departing Prestwick today (3 July) and they are all Ryanair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgecutter Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Buying a troubled airport relying on a single foreign-based budget flight operator was always a stupid idea destined to end in utter tragedy. Eta: There's always the Trump plane for Turnberry of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyerTon Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 The Scottish Government have spent more than £5M of taxpayers cash so far into Prestwick since they took it over and have earmarked another £10M for the current financial year. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/transport/prestwick-fears-raised-as-ryanair-to-announce-major-plans.24653280 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinkinFighter Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Why do we need Prestwick anyway? The SG should have let it fail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgecutter Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Why do we need Prestwick anyway? The SG should have let it fail. Exactly. The way I see it, and let's be honest, Glasgow International (now a mere hour up the road with the motorway upgrades) was it's replacement, essentially making it redundant for it's initial purpose, there basically because of it's lack of fog. It's main remaining purpose is simply because Ryanair didn't want to pay a higher price for a decent airport and that time seems to be changing. Although the military still use a part of it, it should (regrettably) be Ayrshire's RAF Leuchars / Edzell. As for tourism - how often is that area an attraction worthy of it's own airport? A week every few years whenever the Open comes up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Buying a troubled airport relying on a single foreign-based budget flight operator was always a stupid idea destined to end in utter tragedy. Eta: There's always the Trump plane for Turnberry of course. They should turn Prestwick into the base for a massive range of windmills stretching out to Ailsa Craig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monster Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 As for tourism - how often is that area an attraction worthy of it's own airport? A week every few years whenever the Open comes up? Seriously? Have you any idea how many visitors come to Burns country? Ayrshire is swarming with Yanks, Japanese and Scandinavians every summer for that and the golf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgecutter Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Seriously? Have you any idea how many visitors come to Burns country? Ayrshire is swarming with Yanks, Japanese and Scandinavians every summer for that and the golf. So is St Andrews and they manage perfectly fine over an hour from Edinburgh. A rail link is perfectly sufficient... or maybe the SG should also plough money into Leuchars to make it a commercial airport? Eta: I seriously doubt that hour trip will put people who are coming from half way across the world off their trip to Burns Country. I also wasn't saying that's the area's only tourist draw btw, just referring to times where transport from Glasgow would be rammed if Prestwick wasn't there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bairn Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Wonder if after Independence it could be used to tempt Northern Englanders with cheaper flights than Manchester or Liverpool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgecutter Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Wonder if after Independence it could be used to tempt Northern Englanders with cheaper flights than Manchester or Liverpool The extra expense of getting to Prestwick would likely outweigh any money saved on tax in an independent Scotland. It's also probably quicker to get to Edinburgh where Ryanair etc also fly from and the relatively small difference saved wouldn't be worth the faff for most people. For Prestwick, it's either a trip up to Glasgow and going back on yourself (passing a stones throw from Glasgow International where it seems they want to go anyway) or the long, nasty route through New Cumnock deliverance country. If I lived in Carlisle, I'd be saying "f*** that". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgecutter Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 But but but they cannae shut down Elvis Presley International Airport shurely? He didn't even leave the airport did he? Still, Elvis on British soil eh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingscot Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 He didn't even leave the airport did he? Still, Elvis on British soil eh. Aye but it is a myth it was the only place he went to in UK. He visited London in the 50s. Anyway new routes to London, Poland, Ireland from Glasgow. Dublin service transferred entirely to Glasgow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 A non story really, Ryanair hinted at big changes to get maximum free publicity for their new routes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bookies Love Me Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Wonder if after Independence it could be used to tempt Northern Englanders with cheaper flights than Manchester or Liverpool Living in South Cumbria it would probably be less of a strain driving to Prestwick than Liverpool. The train links to Manchester Airport are quite good, and we have the local taxi firms (8 seater buses) who do a roaring trade in airport shuttles. But we also have the choice of Newcastle and Leeds/Bradford, also Blackpool to a lesser extent. I suppose they would have to make the prices ultra-competative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyerTon Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 It's main remaining purpose is simply because Ryanair didn't want to pay a higher price for a decent airport and that time seems to be changing. Although the military still use a part of it, it should (regrettably) be Ayrshire's RAF Leuchars / Edzell. Royal Navy pulling out next year after the Tories decided to privatise Search & Rescue. Private operator Bristows will be based at Prestwick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyerTon Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 Aye but it is a myth it was the only place he went to in UK. He visited London in the 50s. Elvis at Prestwick, 1960. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyerTon Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 Ryanair said it hoped to bring an additional 850,000 passengers through Glasgow International each year. A pity the Scottish Parliament didn't get the Glasgow Airport Rail Link they voted for. However... http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/train-lobby-group-railqwest-unveiled-3418992 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jock001 Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Ryanair said it hoped to bring an additional 850,000 passengers through Glasgow International each year. A pity the Scottish Parliament didn't get the Glasgow Airport Rail Link they voted for. However... http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/train-lobby-group-railqwest-unveiled-3418992 £137 million for an 1800m long track? How much would it cost to run free busses from the teminal to Glasgow city centre for a year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingscot Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 £137 million for an 1800m long track? How much would it cost to run free busses from the teminal to Glasgow city centre for a year? Somewhere near £2m a year. Best quote is "By building a new heavy rail line, we open up Ferguslie to visitors". Aye they'll be jetting in round the globe for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightswoodBear Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Whilst flying back from Australia I got talking to a lassie that worked for Emirates and she said that one of their possible plans for the future was to turn Prestwick into Emirates hub for flights going on to America. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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