Where Has the Money Been Spent?
In October 2005 Newquay Cornwall Airport introduced an Airport Development Fee (ADF). The ADF was introduced to develop services, facilities and infrastructure to meet its customer's needs and the increasing demand for flights to and from the region.
Since its introduction the Airport has changed and improved considerably and is now one of the fastest growing regional airports in the UK. It now boasts regular low cost flights to some of the country's major international airports and overseas destinations.
The terminal capacity has doubled, with significant car park expansion, a new Arrivals Hall, larger departure lounge, improved check-in areas and security facilities. In 2008/09 the Airport recorded a 15% increase in passengers compared with a national decrease of 4%. The Airport has successfully transitioned from a military air base to civilian CAA licensed operations, acquired over 800 acres of Airfield and associated development zones, and published the Airport Masterplan for 2008 - 2030.
Without the contribution of the ADF the Airport would not have been able to develop and provide the improved facilities it offers passengers now and would not have been able to achieve the transition from military to civilian Airport and therefore the Airport would have closed.
Where has the Airport Development Fee been spent?
The ADF has contributed to the following areas:
- Match-Funded Development Costs
- Route Development
- Small Capital Projects (e.g. extra check-in desks, building alterations)
- Capital Repayment (e.g. Transition)
- ADF Support Costs
The ADF is used to repay committed capital debt for projects directly related to the Airport. It is also used to fund the marketing budget for the Airport including marketing support for new route development. The marketing activities funded greatly increase the likelihood of continued and sustained passenger growth, enabling non-aeronautical revenues to reach levels to cover the operating costs and for the Airport to reach break-even status.
What were the Terminal Improvements?
The Interim Development Strategy (IDS) incorporates enhancements and an extension to the terminal area; these include:
- New arrivals hall and expanded departures lounge
- New café and internal reconfiguration
- New security systems
- New drop off zone
- Comprehensive landscaping scheme
What is Transition?
The Transition Project was necessary to secure a CAA Civilian licence for continued operation of the Airport. Major works commenced in January 2008 and the Airport was granted its aerodrome licence on 18 December 2008 and recently received a Highly Commended award from Institute of Civil Engineers.
No major aerodrome with significant commercial operations has converted from military to civilian in such a short period of time; those that have been converted recently were all closed throughout or the challenges faced were at a lower level. The Council faced the choice of closing the Airport for 12-18 months or attempting what had never before been achieved.
The key elements of Transition included:
- Resurfacing of the 2745m runway over several months, during the night, so that flights and
operation at the Airport remained unaffected during the day - Provision of new fire services including new fire appliances, fire training rig and new fire station
- Erection of 7 miles of security fencing
- Installation of new runway, taxiway and approach lighting
- Construction of a new Air Traffic Control Tower and systems
- Installation of new navigational aids and landing systems
Where do we go from here?
The future development of the Aerodrome has been set out in a Masterplan document that includes development of a new passenger facility on the South Side of the runway plus an array of ancillary businesses that will act as a catalyst for a strategic employment centre for the county. These include proposals for new and refurbished hangars to attract aircraft maintenance, a combined 4* hotel, conference and exhibition centre, an educational centre and a business park.
The long-term vision for Newquay Cornwall Airport is:
- the creation of a safe, secure and efficient, commercially successful regional airport;
- a focal point for a major strategic employment area, based around aviation related and associated activities which acts as a key driver of the whole Cornish economy and;
- an airport designed to the best sustainable development principles, offering a model for other regional airports.
Cornwall now has one of the best small airports in Europe. Newquay Cornwall Airport is one of the fastest growing regional Airports in the UK and Europe and will be making a major contribution to the Cornish economy for many years to come.
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