Bristol: General Airport News, Updates & Discussion

[Aviador]

Bristol International Airport tops passenger survey

BRISTOL International Airport has scored well in a survey of four major airports.

Research into the passenger experience was carried out for the Department for Transport by the Civil Aviation Authority, with 15,000 people surveyed across four UK airports, Bristol, Manchester, Stansted and Heathrow.

It found 85 per cent of passengers from Bristol were very satisfied or fairly satisfied with the airport.

Bristol topped the rankings for satisfaction with the check-in experience, with 94 per cent of passengers saying they were very or fairly satisfied, and an average reported check-in time of 6.7 minutes.

The airport's Flyer bus service was also rated highly, with 82 per cent of users expressing satisfaction.

Robert Sinclair, chief executive officer at Bristol International Airport, said: "The results of the survey show that we are delivering a good service to passengers most of the time.

"However, we must not be complacent and there is always room for improvement, particularly as we enter the peak summer season and the pressure on our facilities increases.

"To maintain these impressive satisfaction levels we need to continue investing in facilities, people and technology."

Source

 

[Aviador]

[textarea]Bristol Airport mobility team has busy year

A support service for passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) at Bristol Airport has helped over 33,000 travellers since being introduced 12 months ago. Provided by OCS, it offers a complete service to passengers with reduced mobility, from arrival at the airport to boarding their flight, as well as meeting inbound passengers landing in Bristol.

At the airport, the company employs 30 staff members who provide round-the-clock cover. They operate specialist equipment including two ‘ambulifts’ – hydraulic vehicles used to help passengers who find it difficult to climb aircraft steps to board and disembark aircraft.

Source[/textarea]

The introduction of this service was mandetory. All UK airports have to provide the service since the resonsibility of passengers with reduced mobility has moved from the airline to the airport.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The Bristol Airport press release on their website, from which this story was taken, actually does go on to make the point that you mention.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]Senior bankers take to private jets to avoid swine flu

A Bristol private jet operator hit hard by the recession is now enjoying a boom in business thanks to well-heeled customers' fears over swine flu.

Centreline Air Charter, which flies from Bristol Airport to exclusive destinations all over Europe, found itself at the sharp end of the credit crunch.

Until the economic slowdown, 40 per cent of Centreline's income came from companies paying to ferry employees to business meetings.

However, the combination of a reduction in deals done and a general tightening of corporate belts took a huge toll on the firm's order book.

Sales went down eight per cent in the first half of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008, while enquiries plummeted by 25 per cent.

But the company says the recent swine flu pandemic has provided an unlikely source of trade.
Lost business flights have increasingly been replaced by leisure flights chartered by the same senior banking executives for family holidays to elite resorts such Nice, Cannes, Malaga and Sardinia.
Because they do not want to risk exposing loved ones to the risk of contracting swine flu on a crowded scheduled flight, the bankers are now paying out of their own pockets to travel by private jet.

And they have to dig deep – a return trip to Nice on a five-seater luxury jets costs about £11,000.
But Centreline's managing director Phil Brockwell said that with increased media coverage of the pandemic, ever more people are willing to pay to avoid spending half their holiday in quarantine, or even worse, refused entry.

Mr Brockwell said:"We have had a run of bookings and interest from young families and people with medical conditions, particularly asthma.

"Our normal flight patterns on corporate private jet charter would take us to the key financial centres such as Frankfurt, Dublin, Paris, Milan, Edinburgh.

"We are now spending much more of our time flying into Nice, Cannes, Malaga and Sardinia.

" I must say that there are not too many complaints from our pilots regarding the changes to their flight plans."[/textarea]

Must still be good money in banking then.

 

[Aviador]

I had to laugh today when I'd seen two passengers wearing face masks. The though of them on the aircraft breathing all that recycled air over and over again. It just seemed completely pointless to me.

 

[Aviador]

[textarea]Bristol Airport owner to become independent company

Airport operator Macquarie Airports (MAp), which owns Bristol Airport, has reached an agreement with parent company Macquarie Capital to internalise its management and become a separate company. The deal is subject to approval by MAp security holders at a special general meeting.

The agreement means no further management fees will be paid to Macquarie by MAp. The elimination of these fees is expected to help the new company to maintain initial earnings per share despite the increase in internal management costs.

MAp CEO Kerrie Mather will retain her position and has been invited to join the board. The MAp management team, who are now employed by Macquarie, will be offered employment with the new entity and the company expects most to transfer to MAp.

MAp operates and part-owns Sydney International, Copenhagen Kastrup, Brussels International and Bristol International airports.

Source[/textarea]

What does this mean for Bristol airport? Does it mean that the airport is no longer up for sale?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Not necessarily. This report is a summary of the internal manoeuvrings at Macquarie.

Briefly put, the Macquarie Group (Australia's largest investment bank) has for years milked (by strictly legal means) a number of listed funds it created including Macquarie Airports (MAp) by levying huge fees to manage these funds.

Now the value of MAp and other Macquarie funds has plummeted because of the economic situation Macquarie has decided it will no longer manage these funds and take the fees that come with this so, in exchange for a large number of shares in MAp, it has bowed out of managing this fund but remains in an advisory capacity to safeguard its interest.

Financial comment that I have read suggests this will be more in Macquarie's interest than in MAp's, although I suppose the latter had little choice with a possible alternative being the winding up of the fund altogether or the enforced sale of more assets than it would like - either way not a happy scenario for MAp.

BRS was never actually put up for sale. It was merely one of several major assets it was thought MAp might try to sell in order to obtain cash and in so doing improve the value of this fund, and reports have suggested informal discussions have taken place with other organisations who might be interested in buying some of the assets, including BRS. According to a MAp spokesman this has not changed so the airport still COULD be offered for sale, but it's by no means certain.

MAp is still not the sole owner of BRS. Another Macquarie fund is involved as is a Canadian group.

See below for the rather complicated set-up by which BRS is currently owned.

Bristol International Airport is 100% owned by South West Airports Limited (SWAL), a joint venture holding company owned by Bristol Airport (Bermuda) Limited (BABL) and Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund (MEIF). BABL is 71% owned by Macquarie Airports, a fund listed on the Sydney Stock Exchange, and 29% owned by Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, a major infrastructure investor. Both BABL and MEIF are managed by Macquarie Capital Funds (Europe) Limited (MCFEL), a subsidiary of Macquarie Group Limited.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Assuming the shareholders approve the change when they vote on it which I think is geared for September - no suggestion anywhere that I've read that they won't approve it.

 

[Aviador]

[textarea]Petition supports Bristol Airport expansion

More than 1,800 people have signed a petition supporting the £150m expansion of Bristol Airport. The airport plans to send the petition to North Somerset Council, which is considering the expansion plans. Bristol business groups and firms have also written to the council in support of the expansion.

The plans include doubling the size of the current terminal, adding multi-storey car parks and the demolition of an old terminal, currently used as administration offices. They will be replaced with a new administration building to the right of an expanded terminal, and a new runway apron for aircraft will also be built.

Source[/textarea]

It's good to see some support for the airports expansion plans. It was mentioned on the LBA thread the question "why don't airports just ask their passengers to sign a petition to get better facilities at the airport". In theory, every passenger should be seen as a vote with their feet and we all know that green NIMBY's don't use airports remember! 🙄

One last thing... the article above is slightly misleading saying "They will be replaced with a new administration building to the right of an expanded terminal, and a new runway apron for aircraft will also be built".

People that don't know anything at all about airports will read the above as a "new additional runway" when all it actually means is a new parking apron.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I posted a longer version of the report on the BRS SBAE thread yesterday and made exactly the same point as you have about the runway apron.

The longer version featured some quotes from local business people giving examples as to why the airport is important to them.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]City council opposes Bristol Airport expansion

Bristol City Council has formally objected to the £150 million expansions plans drawn up for Bristol International Airport.

The authority, which used to own the Lulsgate site, claims the expansion will mean more night noise, traffic pollution and climate change, all having an negative impact on Bristol and surrounding areas.

Although the expansion plans will be decided by North Somerset Council, Bristol gets the chance to voice its opinions as a neighbouring authority.

The £150 million scheme includes an expanded terminal, multi-storey car parks, new runway apron and demolition of the old terminal. The airport's claims the expansion is needed to cater for the increase from six million passengers a year, to 10 million by 2020.

Public consultation on the expansion ended last week and the scheme will now be decided by a North Somerset Council planning committee.

Bristol City Council raised concerns in its formal letter of objection, claiming BIA had failed to adequately address issues that the council had previously raised in its application. These included noise levels from planes over Bristol, early in the morning and late at night. It also claims increased airport traffic will reduce air quality in parts of Bristol.

The council also claims the airport has failed to provide convincing evidence that its commitment to generate 15 per cent of energy on site from renewable sources is feasible – and this will be insignificant given the overall increase in carbon emissions from flights and increased road traffic. It also believes increased traffic to the airport will exacerbate congestion on the city's roads.

Campaigners from Stop Bristol Airport Expansion (SBAE) said the city authority had got it right. Spokesman Jeremy Birch said they were "delighted" at the council's objection.

Airport spokesman James Gore said: "At a Full Council meeting on 31 March 2009, Bristol City Council recognised the vital role BIA plays in the city's success, providing worldwide connections for local business and leisure travellers, generating economic growth and high-quality employment, and offering a convenient gateway for inbound tourists. While the consultation response does express some concerns with the proposals, it also contains a number of constructive mitigation measures and amendments should North Somerset Council be minded to approve the application.

"Furthermore, the response contains positive feedback on several key issues, including: support for BIA's proposals to develop the Flyer express bus service as an attractive public transport option; for BIA's proposed contributions to local highway mitigation measures; for BIA's proposed contributions to two major transport schemes (the South Bristol Link and Bus Rapid Transit); and recognition that the effect of expansion on air quality in the city will be small."

Mr Gore added: "Concerns are expressed regarding climate change issues. Although emissions from aircraft using BIA account for less than one per cent of total UK aviation emissions, a comprehensive range of measures to reduce and mitigate the environmental impact of development have been proposed."

The city council and joint airport owners First Group sold Lulsgate for £198 million in 2000 to Spanish construction company Cintra and the Macquarie Bank Group of Australia.[/textarea]

link:http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/City-council-opposes-Bristol-Airport-expansion/article-1281825-detail/article.html

The city council drones on and on about turning Bristol into a major European city yet acts like a rural parish council. I don't know whether this is an all party idea or the brainchild of the Liberals who have recently taken control.

There is no obvious support for expansion from any major party in the area whether local politicians or MPs. What small amounts of support that have been expressed are always hedged with conditions, mainly noise and traffic congestion, yet if anyone seriously suggested the obvious solution, a direct link to the M5 about three miles away in a straight line, the same people would be condemning that.

The more I read about this the more I am convinced the reason the then BRS owners wanted to buy EXT was to use it as a sort of second runway and terminal sixty-odd miles away. It would have saved them huge expense in both construction costs at BRS and the cost of trying to push expansion through.

Another dopy lot of politicians in Devon objected because they thought EXT would be squeezed out when in fact it would have been just the opposite with more carriers, routes and frequencies.

I was fascinated at the concept of a dual-site airport for the entire South West and believe it would have worked. The airports would have been complementary, not rivals.

Incidentally, the local rag can't even get the owners of BRS right. They have finished the report leaving the impression that Cintra (part of Ferrovial, now owners of BAA) still part own BRS.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]Calls to rename Bristol Airport after Adge Cutler

He was the voice of the West Country, cruelly cut off in his prime, but now there are growing calls for Bristol Airport to be renamed... Adge Cutler International.

Liverpool has John Lennon, Sheffield has Robin Hood and Belfast has George Best.

Even holidaymakers travelling to Malaga in southern Spain land at Pablo Picasso Airport.

So, with the kind of tongue-in-cheek humour the founder of The Wurzels was so fond of, bosses at a firm based at Bristol International have started an internet-based campaign to get the airport renamed in his honour.

The numbers joining a Facebook group is mushrooming daily – by 20 per cent in the past three days alone – as Wurzels fans sign up to persuade the airport to mark its expansion with a name change.

It would, said organiser Phil Brockwell, be exactly the kind of Bristol- and Somerset-humoured way to respond to the ever-expanding list of pretentious airport names.

Earlier this month, the decision by the authorities in Oxford to rename the city's airport London Oxford was met with widespread derision, although it was another airport name change that sparked Mr Brockwell's campaign.

He said: "I heard that what used to be Lydd Airfield was now called London Ashford International, which is just ridiculous, as it is miles from London.

"So the conversation turned to all those places that have named their airports after their famous sons, and we were regretting that Bristol Airport isn't called Lulsgate Bottom anymore.

"It came from thinking of who would best represent Bristol and Somerset, typify this area and have the airport named after them."

Phil runs a private jet hire firm from the Lulsgate site, and believes Adge Cutler International would be a great name for the West's biggest airport.

"You think who else it could be, and you think perhaps of Cary Grant, but he made his name away from Bristol," added Phil.

"Adge is Somerset's answer to Jimmy Dean, a legend cut off in his prime.

"It would be brilliant – most people from the rest of the country have no idea who Adge is, and just imagine American tourists in the centre of Bristol asking for directions to Adge Cutler International.

"We had a new girl here and she was absolute Estuary English, and she'd never heard of Adge Cutler.

"We got all the music for her to listen to, and then she knew.

"A lot of the rest of our staff are from Clevedon and this area, and he's close to our hearts.

"It started as a joke between friends and it's just a bit of fun, but other airports take it all so seriously, so it would send a message to the rest of the country, and typify the sense of humour we're famous for."

? Alan John (AJ, or "Adge") Cutler, as all West Country folk know, was born in Portishead in 1931 and was once Acker Bilk's road manager.

? In 1966, aged 35, he formed Adge Cutler and The Wurzels, and wrote songs in West Country dialect, influenced by Bristolian singer Len "Uke" Thomas. Classic songs include Drink Up Thy Zyder and Thee's Gott'n Where Thee Cassn't Back'n Hassn't.

? After eight years of regional acclaim, Adge was tragically killed on his way back from a Wurzels gig in Chepstow, at the age of 43.

? Two years later, with Pete Budd promoted from banjo to lead vocals, The Wurzels hit number one with Combine Harvester, and still gig to this day with many of Adge's old songs.[/textarea]

link: http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage ... ticle.html

I don't like naming airports after people but the founder of the Wurzels is no dafter than some other named airports. Not advocating it though.

 

[Aviador]

I would say that both New York's John F Kennedy and Liverpool's John Lennon airports are the most successful re brands. Where as passengers travelling to the likes Robin Hood airport will be duped into thinking they've landed in Nottingham when infact they have touched down in Doncaster!

Generally speaking I'm not a big fan of re branding airports after personalities but if it is done, it has to be done with a world renouded name for an international airport, or a local name for a domestic airport otherwise the re branding will fail in my opinion.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Unusual visitor to the North Somerset mountains this afternoon was Loganair Saab 340 G-LGNC from MME acting as team bus for Middlesbrough FC who are playing Bristol City tomorrow in the Championship.

The mountain air was more playful than usual today with a very strong wind gusting so, whilst wishing the Boro players no lasting harm, it is tempting to hope they may have suffered upset stomachs - Bristol City needs all the help it can get at the moment and can't be certain a referee will turn up every week who isn't aware that when the ball hits the back of the net he ought really to award a goal, even if he is a homer and the visitors are the ones with the cheek to score.

Even had the full Cardiff City squad and backroom staff through the airport a few weeks ago to and from Lisbon for their pre-season tour. After their performance last Sunday at the new Cardiff City Stadium Bristol City will be wishing that easyJet had left the Bluebirds in Portugal.

Addendum:

The flight into wind-swept Lulsgate may well have helped Bristol City inflict the first Championship defeat of the season on Middlesbrough and in the process score the first goals against them in the League this season.

Perhaps the BC management should keep an eye on weather forecasts and offer to charter aircraft for visiting teams on selected days.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]Gambia bookings up from Bristol International & early booking offers announced

The UK's leading tour operator and specialist to The Gambia reports an 11% rise in bookings for holidays departing pre Christmas from Bristol International Airport. The Gambia Experience, which has been serving the South West market from Bristol since 2001, commences a weekly Friday flight service to the country's capital, Banjul, on November 6th.

The tour operator is attracting visitors with its expanded programme for Winter 2009/10, which includes a wide variety of holidays to suit all tastes and pockets. Accommodation is highlighted within its 'luxury', 'excellent quality' and 'great value' hotel collections with many properties exclusive through the tour operator. More twin centre options with neighbouring Senegal are offered plus a range of excursions and tours including river, bush and beach excursions as well as bird safaris and fishing opportunities plus new cookery courses in traditional Gambian cuisine and African drumming workshops.

The Gambia boasts magnificent stretches of golden sandy beaches and being approximately on the same latitude as Barbados, its superb climate makes it one of the nearest, reliably hot, winter sun destinations. Flying time is just 6 hours from Bristol and this English speaking country is in the same time zone, so there's no jet lag. A rise in upmarket accommodation has resulted in its growing appeal to the luxury sector with The Gambia now being a real contender amongst other better known destinations.
Chris Rowles, managing director of The Gambia Experience, said:

"This growth in high quality accommodation is attracting new visitors to The Gambia, many of whom are switching from long haul destinations. Consequently it is our deluxe properties that are selling well, with bookings for our 'luxury collection' up by 12% for the new season, year on year."

Shaun Browne, Head of Aviation at Bristol International Airport, said:

"For those looking for an exotic and, good value, winter sun break, The Gambia is a great option and we're delighted with the Friday flight departure, which is so convenient for customers."[/textarea]

link:http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/news_and_press/press_releases/article/Gambia_Relaunch_Sept09.aspx

Strange this because last winter The Gambia Experience had two weekly flights albeit I believe one only operated intermittently because of the credit crunch.

In fact, this will be the first winter for several years where there will be only one weekly flight to Banjul. First Choice operated the route since the 1990s, did so in tandem with the GE until last winter when they pulled out leaving the GE on its own.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]A NINE-MONTH-OLD baby girl has died on board a diverted flight to Bristol this afternoon (9 Sept).

The Mercury understands that the infant stopped breathing for 30 minutes before landing, on the way back from Fuerteventura to Cardiff Airport.

The crew made an emergency diversion to Bristol International Airport and landed at about 3.45pm.

A Great Western Ambulance Service spokesman said they received a 999 call from the airport at 3.27pm and that four vehicles, including three rapid response teams and critical care paramedics were waiting on the runway.

The spokesman said: "We had the best resources to work with and the cabin crew, who are highly trained, did the best possible job."

Paramedics continued with advanced life support once the flight had landed but ceased on route to Bristol Children's Hospital.[/textarea]

http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/conte ... 3A56%3A887

What a shocking, tragic event.

Sincere condolences to parents and family.

 

[Aviador]

Tragic news and I echo your condolences to the parents and family.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]New co-owner for Bristol Airport

A Canadian teachers pension fund is the new co-owner of Bristol International Airport.

The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, known as Teachers', already owns 14.5 per cent of the airport but has today agreed to buy 35.5 per cent of the airport from Australian giant Macquarie Airports for £128 million.

The other half of Lulsgate is owned by Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund, a separate arm of Macquarie.

The deal values the airport at £360 million.

In a statement Macquarie Airports said: ""Bristol now represents just four percent of our portfolio by value, and we feel that our investors are better served deploying our resources elsewhere."

Teachers' is the largest single professional pension plan in Canada with £50 billion of assets.
It invests the pension fund's assets and administers the pensions of 284,000 active and retired teachers in Ontario.

Teachers' also owns approximately 48 per cent of Birmingham Airport with a partner, 25 per cent of Scotia Gas Networks, and 50 per cent of InterGen, which operates gas-fired power plants generating more than 2,000 MW in the U.K., as well as other power facilities internationally. Teachers' also owns 11 per cent of Sydney Airport in Australia.

Teachers' originally invested in Bristol Airport in 2002.

Robert Sinclair, chief executive of Bristol Airport, said: "We are pleased to see Teachers' increase its investment in Bristol Airport."

"Teachers' has been a shareholder in BIA for some time and is fully supportive of the strategic direction of the business. It is committed to the long-term development of the airport, and the recent planning application in particular."

North Somerset Council is currently considering the £150 million expansion plans for Bristol Airport, which includes multi-storey car parks, an expanded terminal and improved transport links.

A decision will be made in February, although neighbouring Bristol City Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council have objected on the grounds of climate change.[/textarea]

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage ... ticle.html

The summer long saga of Macquarie Airports wanting to dispose of assets to improve shareholder value with BRS being touted as one of the assets it wanted to sell is now over.

Seems to be a good outcome with Teachers supporting the proposed expansion presumably along with co-owner Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund that has owned half the airport for a number of years.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Where was the tumbleweed?

I went to BRS at lunchtime today to collect something and spent over an hour in and around the airport.

The airport was absolutely dead and it reminded me of the 1980s. Only four scheduled aircraft were timetabled to arrive between midday and 1600 and only six due to depart in that period. In the landside part of the terminal were probably no more than forty members of the public; in fact, there were as many if not more staff around.

Around the two aprons used for passenger aircraft were parked eight easyJet A 319s and they were all in the same position when I passed the airport again two hours later. In the hour I was there only two Ryanair B738s took off and nothing landed.

It almost looked as though the airport was in some sort of a time freeze, except that the general aviation apron on the south side was making hay whilst the big boys were away and the small aircraft were taking off, landing and doing practice approaches almost continuously.

I have since checked today's Mayfly and find the low total of fifty departures and fifty arrivals between midnight and midnight – Ryanair 13, easyJet 13, Air Southwest 8, KLM 3, Air France 3, Eastern 3, Brussels Airlines 2, OLT 2, Continental 1, Thomson 1, Thomas Cook 1.

easyJet only flew to EDI (3), GLA (3), BFS (2), NCL (2), ALC (1), AGP (1) and CDG (1).

Apart from first thing in the morning, when three based aircraft were needed, the rest of the day only required two based aircraft, hence the eight parked up.

It is true that Tuesday is the worst day of the week and that easyJet, for example, saw 27 rotations on Monday and Friday will see 29. Nevertheless, when one looks back to the winters prior to last winter (itself a huge dud) easyJet used to fly to numerous overseas destinations daily.

This week there are 108,288 seats available at BRS in total (vide Mayfly) which compares with 184,646 in the height of the summer just ended, itself down on mid summer 2008. That's a reduction of over 41% in available seats.

The easyJet situation at BRS is as a vivid example of how this airline is trying to preserve some financial stability. Its results today, though well down on the previous year, at least showed a reasonable profit.

It's not just the airlines. There is a knock-on effect. The airport shops suffer - the two landside cafes had no more than half a dozen customers in total. The airport taxis were lined up outside with no punters. The big airport Flyer coaches were trundling to/from the airport to/from the city every fifteen minutes in both directions with scarcely a passenger - some of them were completely empty apart from the driver.

I know this was the quietest period of the worst day of the week but it does show how much work there is to be done before the aviation industry recovers when this sort of thing goes on at an airport such as Bristol; it was one of the last to feel the effects of the recession and appears to be likely to be amongst the first to recover.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Consultative Committee Meeting

The last one was held on 21 October and below are some points made by Robert Sinclair, the CEO.

* The past twelve months have been 'challenging' but there have been signs of recovery in recent months.

* Passenger numbers are now about the same as the comparable period last year.

* 'Quite strong' growth expected in 2010 which 'could well be a record year' but CEO was unwilling to predict actual growth level.

* A number of new destinations likely to be annouced in next few weeks including new ones in Greece and Turkey.

* In reply to a question from one of the members (a well-known opponent of expansion) the CEO said that on present evidence 10 mppa would be reached by 2019 rather than 2016 which was the original date. However, things could change and 10 mppa might be reached sooner or later than 2019.

My Comments

If the expansion is not given the green light 10 mppa is unlikely to be reached at any time.

The new routes are interesting. Apart from Izmir that was a destination until last year, the airport has multiple services to Antalya, Dalaman and Bodrum in the summer. As for Greece, a number of charter routes to Greek islands such as Volos, Santorini and Chania (the other airport on Crete) have been lost in recent years so it is conceivable some might return.

The Ryanair expansion announced last week only brought two new routes - the return of Gdansk and Venice Treviso which replaces easyJet's longtime Venice (Marco Polo). The others were new routes to Ryanair but not to the airport and additional rotations on some of Ryanair's existing routes.