Bristol Airport Parking

Bristol Airport parking plans have been put on hold once again after hopes to build a new car park were dashed. Bristol Park and Fly were hopeful about building a new 1,200 space car park to provide an off airport car park with a minibus link for passengers. Local residents opposing the plans were thrilled when their local parish council announced they were going to back residents and write a letter of objection in protest against the plans.

The blow comes shortly after North Somerset district council has had a frosty reception to their master – plan, suggesting that planning permission is going to be hard to get. This means that long term parking at Bristol Airport may become a problem as passenger numbers rapidly increase. The Stop Bristol Airport Expansion is one of Britain’s most organised campaigns against airport expansion which again is going to make any growth extremely difficult. With Bristol’s passenger numbers expected to double to nine million by 2015, airport bosses are going to have to think of ways to make the expansion appeal to those against it.

A recent survey has revealed that 60 percent of people think it’s a bad idea for the Government to increase the capacity for the number of flights allowed at UK airports. This means that airport bosses are going to have a struggle on their hands when it comes to gaining the support they need from the public.

Analysts believe that local opposition is now a significant factor in the way that airport owners think so is likely to affect any decisions. With locals fearing that expanding the airport will increase greenhouse gas emissions, ruin many green land areas, increase traffic and produce an estimated extra six flights an hour, expansion does not look hopeful for the airport.

UK airports handled 235 million passengers in 2006, a number which is expected to double over the next 25 years. However, when aeroplanes are producing ten times as much CO2 as trains, it’s hard to get much needed support from local residents and environmentalists.

Image belongs to: Esteban De Sousa Seibane. Taken from: www.flickr.com

Blackpool Airport Expansion Plans

Blackpool Airport is celebrating being their region’s fastest growing airport for the second year in a row. The number of people passing through the airport increased from 377,000 in 2005 to 552,724 in 2006 which was a staggering 47 percent boost from the year before.

On the back of the airport’s success, the local council and residents are set to benefit. When the council sold the airfield for £6.2 million in 2004, they agreed not to touch the money in case they had to buy it back. However, the recent success of Blackpool Airport has encouraged the council to release the funds for several projects.

Although they won’t be using all the money, a large sum will be used towards tourism, roads and council funds. The council has every confidence in the airports success which is why they have finally decided to utilise some of the money they received when they sold the airport. Over £1 million will go towards an illumination scheme for the town centre and another million on highway repairs.

It’s hoped that the new additions and repairs will increase the 17 million tourists they receive a year and improve the future of the town.However, not everybody is supporting the council’s decision to spend the money. The Blackpool Gazette has described it as being reckless as the future of the airport is still not assured.

Councillors are concerned because a proposed expansion which may be opposed could put the future success of the airport in doubt. Blackpool Airport’s expansion has already been criticised as their Masterplan does not detail how they expect to cope with the rise in passenger numbers. Their plan suggests that passenger numbers will rise from 350,000 last year to an astonishing 4,300,000 in 2030.

At the moment and average of 15 to 20 flights go from Blackpool every day, by 2030 this is expected to go up to 141 a day. One of the problems they are likely to face is long term parking at Blackpool Airport. With such an increase in the amount of passengers, they are going to have to find space for extra car parks. As well as this, cheap parking at Blackpool airport is necessary as extortionate parking prices may put people off. Like many other airports around the UK who are planning to expand, they are likely to find themselves faced with conflict and hostility from those concerned about the environment, noise and an increase in traffic.  

Birmingham Airport now ‘silent airport’

Birmingham International Airport has adopted a ‘silent airport’ approach in order to make travelling easier for their passengers. The traditional ‘bing bong’ flight call announcements that everyone is used to, have been replaced with a system that electronically displays flight information from screens in its terminal buildings. Passengers will now rely solely on Flight Information Display Screens (FIDS) around the airport to get them to their gate on time.

The decision to end the voice calls comes after research showed that in busy airports where boarding calls are broadcast at regular intervals, passengers became overloaded with information and consequently ‘switch off’ from hearing their flight call announcement.

Birmingham International Airport has installed 92 information display screens in the departure lounges of Terminals 1 and 2. These screens enable passengers to easily locate any information that they need. Such information includes a countdown to when the gate of a flight will be opening. This allows passengers to relax and pass the time in the airport shops and eateries. Assistance will be provided for passengers with reduced mobility and visual and hearing impairments to ensure that they board their flights on time.

The move comes at a good time for Birmingham International Airport as they have just won the Best Airport in Europe award in the five to ten million passengers category from Airports Council International (ACI). Although the airport achieved the award for its overall performance, the panel singled out its activities within the local community and its commitment to the environment.

Belfast Airport Parking

Belfast Airport parking is set to become a topic of debate as the increase in parking prices and the decision to scrap free parking for those picking up passengers has caused outrage. In an attempt to decrease congestion around terminals it appears that in fact, the opposite has happened.

It was obvious to many that rather than pay to drop someone off people are driving around the airport and local area instead. Previously, people had been allowed to park in the short stay car park for free for up to 10 minutes due to security measures banning people from driving up to terminal buildings. Instead, now, people picking up or dropping off passengers will have to pay £1 for 30 minutes of parking. This means that cheap parking at Belfast airport is a thing of the past. One of the many concerns about this new system is that the airport is forcing people to park illegally which is causing environmental, safety and congestion problems.  

Prior to the announcement that abolished free parking at Belfast Airport, people had been entering and leaving the short stay car park on several occasions or parking illegally on the main road in order to avoid paying car park charges. Whilst it was agreed by everyone that this was a problem that needed solving, many feel that the free parking time should have been increased to 30 minutes rather than being scrapped altogether.

The introduction of an increase in parking prices on the 1^st January 2007 is likely to blame for this behaviour. Short stay car parking was increased by 25 percent, whilst prices for the long term parking at Belfast Airport were increased by an astonishing 100 per cent. 

This had been the second increase in parking prices at the airport in three months. Further irritating the many passengers who regularly travel through Belfast Airport, is that many savings that were promised disappeared before being put into practice. Much of this anger stems from the fact that passengers are being asked to pay more for aviation taxes, fuel and baggage surcharges and then on top of that are facing rising parking prices at Northern Ireland’s busiest airport.

One way to get past expensive parking charges is to use one of the Meet and Greet services available at airport. The provide a much easier way of getting yourself and your luggage to the check in desk. It means you can drive your car to the airport and be rest assured that your car is being taken to a safe and secure parking space. With a 100 percent customer satisfaction, repeat business and customer satisfaction record, it seems a much easier and logical way of getting to the airport.

Image belongs to: Esteban De Sousa Seibane. Taken from: www.flickr.com 

Aberdeen Airport Parking

Aberdeen Airport is set to introduce a second taxi firm to their ranks in a bid to make more taxis available to travellers. The operation, which is scheduled to commence by the end of the summer, has been implemented to cater for the increasing numbers of customers travelling through the airport.

Thanks to new routes and destinations being added, Aberdeen Airport has seen an extra 314,000 passengers pass through their doors over the last year. In order to provide the best service possible, airport officials feel that they have to ensure plenty of taxis are available to take customers to and from the airport. However, it is thought that this move could anger commuters in the city.

New taxis working at Aberdeen Airport will be taken out of the city to meet new demands, which means a shortage of taxis available in other parts of Aberdeen. Airport bosses argue that they have to meet demand and with the number of passengers using Aberdeen Airport having soared by more than ten per cent over the last year, extra methods of transportation have to be executed in order to cater for people requiring these services.

Another popular method of getting to and from airports is Meet and Greet services available at most airports. It makes getting to your desired airport easier as you don’t have to haul your luggage on trains or busses and worry about them being late or busy. You are even offered a money back guarantee if they are late to meet you. Using these companies also means cheap parking at Aberdeen Airport with the guarantee that you’re car is going to be safe and brought back to you in one piece.

Extra taxis and meet and greet services are especially needed when flying is required to get to popular events and it’s a great method of securing long term parking at Aberdeen Airport. The number of passengers passing through Scotland’s three biggest airports, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, reached record levels in May due to the Uefa cup final. Nearly 2 million customers passed through these airports in May which is 5.5 percent up on the same month last year.

An increase in the number of taxis and meet and greet services available can only be a good thing as Aberdeen Airport has consistently been among the fastest growing of BAA’s UK airports.

Image belongs to: Esteban De Sousa Seibane. Taken from: www.flickr.com