Good news for GLA...Bad news for PIK

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Member for

18 years

Posts: 2,098

Wizz air will shift operations from Prestwick to Glasgow from March 1
Leaving Ryanair as the only passenger operator flying from Prestwick
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/bu...-moves-1560320

Original post

Member for

18 years 6 months

Posts: 2,343

Indeed, it is bad news for PIK...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-21228661

Here is an interesting video about Prestwick's future...http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-20664531

It's currently up for sale, along with Manston in Kent, however a lack of investment by Infratil is what is being citied as the main reason as to why they've been unsuccessful in obtaining new airlines/routes at PIK, or had success in finding a buyer so far.

And its looking pretty bad for Infratil, especially considering that they bought PIK from Stagecoach back in 2001 for £33.4m, and its now currently being valued at approx £14.3m, and I've read some reports recently which seem to suggest it might be worth even less than that (some figures are as low as just £10.5m).

I was hoping/wondering whether PIK might try and poach KLM's flights to AMS from GLA, as they recently managed to get KL to launch twice-daily flights from MSE (start on the 3rd April), but I guess GLA have managed to keep all their airline customers happy to date.

One thing though that I would like to pose...could some blame also be possibly be leveled at Ryanair, seeing as they try to get everything for very little or nothing at all in terms of handling and landing fees, obviously this means that airport will not generate as much revenue as it could/should that would enable it to invest in the infrastructre, or is that an unfair criticism?

I suppose the only saving graces for PIK at the moment are the fact that it has its own railway station that offers a direct link into Glasgow city centre, and also the fact that Ryanair have a big maintainence facility based at PIK, so there is always going to be aircraft going in and out of it, but again because they try to get everything for nothing, this limits the airports investment opportunities.

I do hope that a buyer can be sought for PIK/MSE soon.:)

Member for

18 years

Posts: 2,098

You are spot on about the Ryanair effect....any operators trying to work from PIK are chased out the door..Wizz had loads more flights when they first started, then RYR went to war and now decimated the Wizz to 4 a week or something, they are holding PIK to ransom.... Wizz will increase their loads by flying from GLA, but, they have to contend with outrageous BAA fees

Member for

19 years 10 months

Posts: 1,338

flying from GLA, but, they have to contend with outrageous BAA fees

Which might see Wizz eventually settle-in at competing EDI?