Blackpool Airport in the UK has revealed plans for a new £600,000 terminal in hopes of relaunching scheduled flights. The airport had operated flights to Europe in 2012, flying to destinations in Spain and Portugal. The passenger terminal was sadly demolished in 2016, but a new terminal is set to go ahead with works given to a contractor. The new terminal will include a larger arrival and departure lounge, new security, and baggage equipment, with hopes of welcoming larger flights in the near future.
Initially, the new terminal will allow for private charters for UK football teams, with plans for a purpose-built facility to replace it in the next three to five years. The airport hopes to test the market for additional executive and scheduled flights, which could lead to larger scheduled flights such as domestic routes in the future. While the airport’s managing director believes it is unlikely to happen in the near future, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has expressed interest in exploring commercial flights from Blackpool Airport if there is demand for it.
Locals in Blackpool currently have to travel to the nearest airport in Liverpool, around 30 miles away, since Blackpool Airport closed in 2014. The airport was later bought and operated routes to Isle of Man and Belfast in 2015, with mainly flying lessons and private flights taking place last year. Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which closed in 2022, could restart flights within the next 18 months, with TUI expressing interest in relaunching flights to destinations like Cyprus, Spain, and Poland.
Other UK airports aiming to relaunch flights include Humberside, Southend, Teesside, Norwich, Newquay, Kent’s Manston Airport, and Plymouth Airport. These airports cater to the fewest passengers a year, with plans to reintroduce flights in the future. Blackpool Airport’s new terminal and upcoming purpose-built facility signify a step towards reviving the airport’s operations and potentially welcoming larger scheduled flights in the coming years.
