Concerns Are Raised Over the Impending Closure of Loss-Making Airport ; Exclusive: The Former Chief Executive of Air Southwest, Malcolm Naylor, has Given More Details of How He Believes a New Plymouth Airline Could Work - and Raised Concerns About the Decision to Close the Airport, Reports Business Editor Liz Parks

Western Morning News, The › November 24, 2011

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Summary

In less than one month's time Plymouth City Airport is set to close - leaving the prospect of the largest city on the south coast without its own airport.

Airport operator the Sutton Harbour Group invoked the "Armageddon clause" on its lease last December, informing the freeholder, Plymouth City Council, that the airport was not viable and seeking its permission to shut the site down. Sutton Harbour said the airport was not viable because it was set to lose Pounds 1 million this year and departing passenger numbers had dropped to just 100 a day.

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Extract

Concerns Are Raised Over the Impending Closure of Loss-Making Airport ; Exclusive: The Former Chief Executive of Air Southwest, Malcolm Naylor, has Given More Details of How He Believes a New Plymouth Airline Could Work - and Raised Concerns About the Decision to Close the Airport, Reports Business Editor Liz Parks

Although both Exeter and Newquay airports are easily accessible from Plymouth, concerns have been raised about the impact on businesses based in the city and on future inward investment opportunities.

A campaign group, called Viable, has been set up with the aim of keeping the airport open. With members including Malcolm Naylor, former chief executive of Air Southwest and managing director of Brymon Airways, the group is now seeking investment to set up a new airline to run scheduled services from Plymouth. Mr Naylor has been a key part of this latest development and he is adamant that a new airline could be a commercial success. But he has also ...

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