But basically, I think a 1-2% fall in pax figures is insignificant because by its nature, if the airport gains a new based aircraft next year then it will blast that difference out of the water.
Abbotsinch has gained lots of based aircraft and is still in decline – 4 consecutive months of minus growth is officially a recession I believe?
The problem at Abbotsinch is the demise of it’s charter market, folk are no longer ‘sent’ there by the High Street
Travel trade.
CAA figures show that the charter market at Abbotsinch declined by 214,524 passengers in 2004 and by a further 190,278 in 2005.
What figure 2006?
Abbotsinch was particularly vunerable because most High Street bookable Scottish charter flights were only available from there. Look at the travel agent branch closures in recent years, based charter aircraft need strong travel agent arms to feed them.
Folk now have a greater choice of flights from more Scottish airports and of course the opportunity of booking
these flights online.
Based aircraft can and do dictate the popularity of airports.
At the end of the day it’s down to the public if they bow to their own choice of departure airport or someone else’s.?
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