Hawarden Airport may get regular passenger services

[northwichcat]

Slightly contradicting information from different sources. The Airport is right next to the main rail line so would be ideal for a Hawarden Airport station if the number of flights pick up. Although initially there would probably be insufficient demand for a station.

Scheduled passenger flights could return to Chester Hawarden airport in Flintshire next year when work is completed on a £1m terminal.

The airport is next to the Airbus wings factory in Broughton and currently manages business and private flights.

The company which runs the 50-acre site is aiming to attract interest from airlines using aircraft up to 50 seats.

It envisages flights across the UK, including Cardiff and possibly as far as Italy and Spain.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-19259601

A new temporary terminal is being built at Chester Hawarden Airport with airport bosses confirming commercial flights could start next year. But residents living under the airports flight path fear the extra flights will lead to huge increases in noise and pollution.

Airport bosses told the Leader they are in talks with several airlines after confirming some commercial flights would start next year.
Budget airline easyJet has refused to comment on growing speculation it was interested in operating flights from the airport near Hawarden.

Currently corporate jets and charter flights take off from the airfield but a new temporary terminal catering for between 50 and 100 passengers is being built.

The airport hopes to use the new terminal for two years to determine whether operating public fights is viable in the long term.

Project manager Ian Davies confirmed talks with airlines were already under way and said he was hopeful major airlines would be attracted to the airport.

He added flights would “potentially” serve a range of international destinations but said the plans were in the “early days”.

But residents living under the airport’s flight path fear the extra flights will lead to huge increases in noise and pollution.

‘One Voice For Blacon’ chairman Phil Boden said there was widespread concern about the expansion plans.

He said: “We have been trying to get some answers but the responses so far have been very iffy.

“More flights will inevitably mean more noise and more pollution. We have been told easyJet is very interested and have heard land around the airport has been bought.

“We are worried the airport could grow much bigger very quickly if someone like easyJet came on board.”

http://www.chesterfirst.co.uk/news/115232/fears-over-major-airport-plan-near-city.aspx

 

[WestCoast]

The North West doesn't really need another major international airport. It's under 30 miles from Hawarden to Liverpool Airport, under 40 miles to Manchester Airport and under 70 miles to Blackpool Airport. easyJet have large bases at the first two, so I'm not convinced that they would be interested.

However, perhaps WAG would be interested in subsidising a Cardiff link, as they do with Anglesy. Hawarden could probably attract Manx2 and their 19 seaters, who would operate to Cardiff (with WAG help) and the Isle of Man. This would mirror Anglesy.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I fear that the residents in that area will already be motivating themselves should any such plans look likely to come to fruition.

 

[northwichcat]

The North West doesn't really need another major international airport. It's under 30 miles from Hawarden to Liverpool Airport, under 40 miles to Manchester Airport and under 70 miles to Blackpool Airport.

And didn't Blackpool become a bit of a white elephant airport after Ryanair withdrew from it?

 

[WestCoast]

And didn't Blackpool become a bit of a white elephant airport after Ryanair withdrew from it?

Well, I wouldn't go as far as that, the airport wasn't making any money out of Ryanair. It still has more services that it did in the '90s and early '00s, mainly thanks to Jet2 who have an aircraft based there serving traditional holiday routes and a link to Belfast. Ryanair's Dublin route was replaced by another airline (Aer Arann) as well. Plus, it has Manx2 with the Isle of Man services, I reckon Hawarden could probably attract this outfit, they really like small airports.

 

[northwichcat]

Ryanair's Dublin route was replaced by another airline (Aer Arann) as well.

Blackpool-Dublin seems to have an EI flight code so it must be Aer Lingus Regional operated by Aer Arann.

 

[WestCoast]

Blackpool-Dublin seems to have an EI flight code so it must be Aer Lingus Regional operated by Aer Arann.

It is now, but Aer Arann came before that franchise agreement was in place.