Blackpool International Airport, United Kingdom

Blackpool International Airport is located on Lancashire's Fylde coast in the UK. It was formerly known as Squires Gate Airport. In 1937 the airport was taken over by RAF Coastal Command and the airfield facilities were developed.

In 2008, Balfour Beatty purchased the airport from MAR Properties for £14m.

The airport is spread over 198 hectares. It handled more than 2.35 million passengers and recorded 50,905 aircraft movements in 2010. It handled 40.918t of cargo in 2010.

Master plan for Blackpool airport's future development

The master plan of the airport was prepared in March 2006 in accordance with the UK Department for Transport (DfT) guidelines of July 2004.

It covered development of the airport starting from December 2003 to 2030.

It recommended the development of passenger and aircraft movement areas and development of airspace, infrastructure and surface access at the airport.

Expansions of facilities at Blackpool International Airport

In February 2009 a £1m project to upgrade the runway and taxiway at the airport was initiated. The project involves increasing the capacity of the airport by expanding the runway and taxiways with more than 250,000ft2 of new surface and adding 3,500 tons of asphalt.

The contract was awarded to Colas Group. The phase I construction started in February 2009 and was supposed to be completed within five weeks time.

The £2m project, involving refurbishment of the airport terminal and car park, was completed in February 2006.

The project involved improving the airport by adding an additional baggage reclaim belt, more check-in desks, a departure lounge and an executive lounge, a new flight information system and shopping facilities.

Terminal features at the Lancastrian airport

The airport has a single passenger terminal. The total area of the terminal is 3,800m2.

The terminal has a capacity to handle up to two million passengers a year. The facilities at the terminal include 14 check-in desks, six departure gates, an additional baggage reclaim carousel and 5,000ft2 of retail space.

An international currency exchange unit is located opposite to the check-in area.

The terminal features meeting and arrivals areas, tourist information centres, Horizons cafe, bars and restaurants. It also has a departure lounge which can accommodate up to 600 passengers.

Runways at the airport

The airport has two asphalt-paved runways. The first runway (10/28) is 1,869m long. The second runway (13/31) is 1,004m in length.

Controversy

In August 1941, L6509 and N1745 flights collided in the midair over Blackpool's central seafront. The collision caused severe damage to the Blackpool Central railway station and killed 12 people.

In June 1972 HFB-320 Hansa Jet flight crashed during take off and caught fire. Two crew members and five of the six passengers were killed in the accident. On 27 September 1982, a flight belonging to Harvest Air was damaged in an accident at the airport.

In December 2006, AS365N Eurocopter crashed into the Irish Sea. The cause of the accident was pilot's error.

In February 2007, a Piper Cherokee flight crashed in the Fylde Coast, when it was approaching to the airport. Both the crew on board were killed in the accident.

Ground transportation connections

The airport is well connected with numerous ground transportation facilities. Direct trains from the Northern Rail service connect Squires Gate railway station and Blackpool South.

Blackpool Transport provides bus services from the airport to the city. Blackpool Transport tram services and taxi services are also available at the airport.

Car rental services at the airport are provided by companies such as Hertz, Europcar and Avis. Offices of Europcar and Avis are located outside the terminal doors near car park and the office of Hertz is located outside the arrivals area.

Car parking lots and spaces

The airport has two car parking lots, P1 and P2, which provide both short and long-term car parking facilities. Free parking is available up to 15 days to all the departing passengers in both the parking lots.