Archive for the ‘Aberdeen airport’ Category
BAA, which owns and operates Aberdeen Airport, Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport, has welcomed a report from a group of MSPs calling for extra marketing support for airlines flying in to Scotland. Gordon Dewar, managing director of Glasgow and acting MD of Edinburgh Airport, said: “Aviation is an integral part of the social and economic life of our country, delivering thousands of high quality jobs, generating investment and sustaining our tourist industry, now, more than ever, the lifeblood of our economy. We have made it clear that we believe there is a strong case for some form of EU-compliant marketing support fund and argued strongly for this in our evidence to the committee. Since 2002 BAA Scotland has invested in excess of £110 million in route development support for airlines starting new direct international services. This work has transformed Scotland’s international connectivity. We would welcome any additional support which builds on this success for the benefit of business and leisure travellers. “The worldwide airline industry is entering a difficult phase, with many carriers reducing capacity or scaling back expansion plans as a result of rising fuel prices and the impact of the credit crunch. We are working hard to support our airlines, in partnership with organisations such as VisitScotland and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau. Any additional support would be welcome.” Works starts today on a £2m project to upgrade the terminal forecourt at Aberdeen Airport. The improvement works are expected to last for around 18 weeks and will see a new dedicated access lane for taxis and service buses and a new drop-off area for passengers. The former inner forecourt will be converted to pedestrian access only; the temporary concrete blocks will be replaced with permanent bollards and the existing lighting will be replaced with low energy, high efficiency LED fittings. Aberdeen Airport’s customer services director Will Dougherty said: “I am confident that when this work is complete the forecourt will meet the needs of our passengers and represent a significant improvement on the existing arrangements, improving the end-to-end experience of key stakeholders and passengers alike. “Unfortunately, during the construction phase of the project a degree of disruption is inevitable, particularly in the area currently used as the drop-off area and car park. We will be working hard to ensure that these new arrangements are introduced as smoothly as possible, therefore minimising potential inconvenience throughout construction.” For up-to-date Aberdeen Airport information and to book Aberdeen airport parking and Aberdeen airport hotels click on the links. A group of children from Belarus has arrived in Aberdeen, ahead of a month-long health and culture break. Five boys and four girls – accompanied by an interpreter - flew to Aberdeen Airport last night, where they met their “adoptive families” for the first time. The trip has been organised and financed by the Aberdeen Link of the national charity, Chernobyl Children Life Line. After the Chernobyl Disaster in April 1986, 70% of the radioactive fallout landed in Belarus and as a result 94% of children are either born with or develop bone cancer, thyroid cancer, leukaemia, tumours, deformities, diabetes and other serious illnesses. The contaminated area continues to spread and this will continue to increase for many more generations to come. Chairwoman of the Aberdeen Link, Lisa Brown said bringing the children to the UK – and away from the highly contaminated region they live - gives their immune systems such a boost that it prolongs their lives by up to two years. She said: “To see the children become visibly more healthy and have more energy, to see their confidence grow, and their delight and appreciation of all the new experiences during the month is so enjoyable, rewarding and worthwhile. I’ve visited Belarus twice and know how much their families appreciate the opportunity their children have to come here. It simply changes their lives and gives them hope to live. We are extremely grateful to all families, companies and individuals who have helped to make this visit possible.” Due to industrial action by members of the Unite union, including firefighters and engineers, the airports at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick will be closed to scheduled flights on 23 June. As a result of the action Eastern Airways has been forced to cancel the following flights to and from Aberdeen Airport: ABERDEEN - STORNOWAY - ABERDEEN: T3 554 ABZ-SYY WICK - ABERDEEN - WICK: T3 560 WIC-ABZ Eastern Airways flights to and from Inverness to Manchester Airport and Leeds Bradford Airport are unaffected by the strike. For cancellation terms check out Eastern Airways website. Changes to bookings can either be made at the Eastern Airways ticket sales desk at Aberdeen Airport, Eastern Airways check-in desk at Wick Airport or by contacting Eastern Airways reservations on +44 (0)8703 669100. Billionaire businessman Donald Trump departed from Aberdeen Airport yesterday, marking the end of the first day of the Public Local Inquiry into his proposals for two golf courses, homes and a luxury hotel. The airport’s managing director Kevin Brown said: “We were delighted to again welcome Donald Trump to Aberdeen. Everyone at the airport has been supporting the golf resort development as we believe this will bring major benefits to this region and to the whole of Scotland. “Mr Trump speaks passionately about his intentions for the Menie Estate and it is clear the economic and social benefits brought by a development of this kind will be enormous. At the same time, he has made it abundantly clear that he recognises how important it is to strike the right balance with the environmental issues of the site. “Mr Trump’s proposals also come at a particularly important point in time, with more and more consideration being given to the future of the City & Shire, and the need to diversify our economy and to embrace major opportunities, such as the development at Balmedie.” Speaking minutes before boarding his Aberdeen flight, Mr Trump said: “I am delighted to have visited Aberdeen once more, and it’s always a real pleasure to come back here to Scotland. “We’ve had a really positive start to the beginning of this inquiry and of course I’m now looking forward to this progressing to the next stage. “I hope to come back here to Aberdeen and to Scotland many more times in the many years to come. I really do believe we can build the finest golf course anywhere in the world.” Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce chief executive, Geoff Runcie added: “This has been a very important day as it begins the formal review of Donald Trump’s plans for the Menie Estate. “Equally it provides those who wish to make representations about the development their final opportunity to make their views clear. “The next step is for the Reporters to make their recommendations, and then for the Scottish Government to come to a decision on this significant and highly relevant development.” For more information about Aberdeen local amenities and to book Aberdeen airport parking and Aberdeen airport hotels click on the links.
BAA has announced the appointment of a managing director for its new airports division. Stephen Peat will join BAA on 1 July from Amey Rail and will be responsible for running six of BAA’s seven UK Airports: Gatwick, Stansted, Edinburgh airport, Glasgow airport, Aberdeen airport and Southampton airport. Eastern Airways is to revise its scheduled flights to Stavanger from Aberdeen Airport. The amended timetable will take place on 12 May and offer an early morning flight at 6.50am allowing business passengers to arrive in Norway by 9am. The afternoon flight remains the same, leaving Aberdeen at 3.30pm, arriving in Stavanger at 5.40pm, and leaving Stavanger at 6.05pm arriving in Aberdeen at 6.15pm (all times local). The Sunday service departs Aberdeen at 5.20pm and Stavanger at 7.55pm. Graeme Ross, Eastern Airways’ Scotland director, said: “We are pleased to be introducing the earliest morning departure from Aberdeen to Stavanger, which will be more convenient for both business and leisure passengers. “Stavanger, being the centre of Norwegian oil and gas activity, is an important region for us and we will continue to provide a high quality service for all our passengers.” Eastern Airways operates flights from Aberdeen to Bristol Airport, Durham Tees Valley Airport, East Midlands Airport, Humberside Airport, Leeds Bradford Airport, Newcastle Airport, Norwich, Southampton Airport, Stornoway and Wick. bmi regional today celebrates the 20th anniversary of its Aberdeen flights to Denmark. The Aberdeen Airport to Esbjerg route began in April 1988 and now operates six days per week providing an important link for the oil & gas industry and leisure market – Esbjerg has twice been voted “City of the Year”. Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce chief executive, Geoff Runcie added: “Direct international air services are crucial to the North East business community and the commitment of bmi regional to this important route, which supports a number of oil and gas sector businesses, is key to sustaining our position as a strategic energy hub.” For up-to-date Aberdeen airport information and to book Aberdeen airport parking and Aberdeen airport hotels click on the links.
Flybe is set to add additional Aberdeen to Gatwick flights in response to demand. The airline will add extra flights on Saturdays and Sundays between May and October giving travellers between Aberdeen airport and Gatwick the option of two return flights at weekends. Aberdeen – London Gatwick extra flights:
For information on and to book Gatwick airport parking and Gatwick meet and greet parking click on the links. Anyone looking for a taxi at Aberdeen Airport last night faced a long queue as Aberdeen Airport taxi drivers went on strike at 8pm. The strike action was in protest at the new barrier system BAA want to introduce in August, when Aberdeen Airport taxi drivers face a £1 charge for every time they pick up passengers from the airport – city-based drivers will be subject to a charge of £2. Last night’s action followed the announcement by official airport taxi company, Rainbow Taxis, that they were terminating their contract on 31 March due to the new charges. |
