Once-popular UK airport given huge boost to reopen after closing 12 years ago
AN airport in the UK that closed more than a decade ago has taken new steps in a bid to reopen.
Plymouth Airport was forced to cease all operations back in 2011, citing an “Armageddon clause”.
This means that the owners of the airport were able to close it down after claiming it was no longer financially viable to keep it open.
However, Tory councillors in Plymouth have begun a probe into the clause, to see if this should have been allowed.
The investigation into the lease is ahead of its expiry in March 2024, following its five-year protection for aviation operations.
Plymouth’s Tory leader Andy Lugger told local media: “The lease is a matter of public record.
“There was a procedure to be followed in the event of the airport no longer being viable.
“Questions need to be asked about the procedure that was followed when Plymouth City Airport Ltd confirmed to the council that the enterprise was no longer viable.”
They hope to be able to regain the airport back into public ownership, and then relaunch flights.
FlyPlymouth chief executive Raoul Witherall previously said they could even launch flights to Europe from Plymouth Airport, such as Amsterdam.
Plymouth Airport was first opened in 1931 by the then Prince of Wales, Edward VII.
During its heyday, the airport flew as many as 157,000 passengers a year.
Airlines included Air Wales and Air Southwest, with routes between Plymouth, Wales and London.
However, Air Southwest, who operated routes to London, pulled out, which saw numbers fall to just 100 passengers a day.
This led to the airport’s closure in 2011.
Plymouth Airport isn’t the only one hoping to reopen in the UK.
A campaign to reopen Doncaster Sheffield has been put forward, after it closed back in 2022.
And Manston Airport in Kent is being rebuilt with hopes to relaunch passenger flights.