Humberside Airport, which is part of the Manchester Airport Group, has seen profits fall over the last year. The group which consists of Manchester, East Midlands, Bournemouth and Humberside Airports have suffered due to people being more conscientious about the environment. The number of people changing their method of transport from planes to trains where possible has led to a £700,000 decline in profits in the last 12 months.

Another factor affecting Humberside Airport, part of the second largest airport operator in the UK, is the terror alerts of the last few years. Obviously this has put people off flying as has the fact that airports have to increase security levels. This means taking longer to check in, queuing for long periods of time and people becoming increasingly frustrated. Along with higher utility costs and the number of low-cost flights declining, the future is not looking bright for many airports across the UK.

Although passenger numbers across the group rose from 27.6 million to 28.6 million, revenues stayed the same, suggesting that people are paying less for their tickets. No doubt this is a result of people being more reluctant to fly. As a result of this, bosses at MAG say that they are stepping up their efforts in order to improve their customer service proposition. They are looking into ways of making the passenger experience even more enjoyable including improving services in the terminals, retail areas and car parks at Humberside Airport.

With regards to passengers being concerned about the environment, the Manchester Airport Group has reduced its carbon emissions by using renewable sources of electricity and water. It is hoped that growth can be expected this year along with costs being cut and income being boosted.  

An MP from the North East has expressed his concerns about the level of security at Durham Tees Valley Airport. It is thought that the airport could be a very appealing target for terrorists as it’s so close to the army’s Catterick garrison – home to one of the UK’s largest army bases.

Making it even more appealing to terrorists is the fact that the airport is used by soldiers boarding military flights to the Middle East. One of the suggested solutions to lower the risk of this happening was to have the military fly at night when there are fewer civilians using Durham Tees Valley Airport.

However, this idea has since been disregarded as it’s unrealistic and impractical. As well as this, many locals have been campaigning for years to reduce the number of night – time flights. It is thought that increasing them would only anger those living near the airport and cause more problems. A member of the local council has admitted that Durham Tess Valley Airport is inadequate for military use and they do not have enough police to cover it and carry out observations of anything suspicious.

Another suggested idea was for the military to use their own air-field as this would have limited impact on the public. Following the terrorist attack on Glasgow airport, security was stepped up at Durham Tees Valley Airport however. Shortly after the incident armed police were drafted in amid fears that other terminals may be targeted by terrorists. The airport was put on high alert and an armed response team were patrolling throughout the airport.

Many people consider their cars to be their pride and joy so it’s not surprising that you’re going to want to ensure you’re leaving it in the best hands when you are trusting it with airport parking. A recent episode of Watchdog shook people’s faith in car valeting services available at airports.

A tracking device secretly hidden in cars revealed that Pink Meet & Greet was a rogue company who were taking people for a ride, quite literally.It was revealed that despite promises of safe and secure parking, people’s vehicles were in fact only in secure compounds for an average of two out of five days with this airport parking service.

For the remaining time cars were passed between supermarket car parks and streets. Hardly the kind of service you expect for about £75 a week.  As if this wasn’t enough, cars were being driven at speeds of over 100 mph and there were reports of illegal substances and cds that didn’t belong to the owners being found in cars. There is no need to write off companies that offer airport parking though. There are some that provide very good services, are reliable and reasonably priced.

The best way to ensure you are getting value for money and are with a genuine company is to take following steps before committing to anything. Make sure you thoroughly check out the company you are planning to use before committing to anything when looking for airport parking. If they are a genuine company they should be a member of the Independent Airport Park and Ride Association (IAPRA). This should give you a good indication that you will be leaving your vehicle in safe hands. Opt for organisations who have been awarded the Safer Parking Award which is granted by the police after a detailed risk assessment.

To check for registration visit www.saferparking.comWatch out for companies such as Airport Car Parking Direct who claim to have the AA Gold Standard award for security. This scheme was terminated over five years ago so any company displaying the award should be reported.

Car parking at airports can be a confusing business.  At Blackpool Airport we provide the options to make sure you get the type of airport parking service you want and the car parking option that’s the best value for your money.

If you never quite leave enough time before your flight you need airport parking to be simple, quick and easy.  If you arrive back at the airport from your trip desperate to get in your car and get home, you want the airport car park close and the payment process simple.

At Blackpool Airport we work with a number of partners to simplify airport parking and to ensure it offers what you need. Parking at Blackpool Airport includes exclusive  ‘meet and greet’ for the executive, long term airport parking for the long-haulers and short term airport car parking for the pick up and drop off drivers or those with business around the airport.

For those doing the taxi run, Blackpool Airport short term parking is situated right outside the passenger terminal and is ideal for customers picking up or dropping off friends, family or business colleagues.  Short term airport parking rates are usually by the hour for the first day, keeping costs down and parking flexible.

Long term airport parking is for those who are going to leave cars at the airport while away travelling.  Prices are charged by the day but are usually at a lower rate than short term parking if you are parking for more than one day. 

There are a number of tips to consider when planning airport car parking at Blackpool Airport.

• Pre-book your airport car parking at Blackpool Airport.  This can make it cheaper.
• Print Blackpool airport car park directions off the internet to ensure you get to the airport car park in time for your flight.
• Be clear beforehand whether short term or long term airport car parking is the one you want.   If you’re running late the closer short term airport car park is tempting but expensive if you’re leaving your own car.
• Make a note of which section of the airport car park you leave your car in.  People away for a week are often to be seen wandering Blackpool Airport car park forlornly seeking their car on return.

Blackpool Airport is celebrating being their region’s fastest growing airport for the second year in a row. The number of people passing through the airport increased from 377,000 in 2005 to 552,724 in 2006 which was a staggering 47 percent boost from the year before.

On the back of the airport’s success, the local council and residents are set to benefit. When the council sold the airfield for £6.2 million in 2004, they agreed not to touch the money in case they had to buy it back. However, the recent success of Blackpool Airport has encouraged the council to release the funds for several projects.

Although they won’t be using all the money, a large sum will be used towards tourism, roads and council funds. The council has every confidence in the airports success which is why they have finally decided to utilise some of the money they received when they sold the airport. Over £1 million will go towards an illumination scheme for the town centre and another million on highway repairs. It’s hoped that the new additions and repairs will increase the 17 million tourists they receive a year and improve the future of the town.

However, not everybody is supporting the council’s decision to spend the money. The Blackpool Gazette has described it as being reckless as the future of the airport is still not assured. Councillors are concerned because a proposed expansion which may be opposed could put the future success of the airport in doubt.

Blackpool Airport’s expansion has already been criticised as their Masterplan does not detail how they expect to cope with the rise in passenger numbers. Their plan suggests that passenger numbers will rise from 350,000 last year to an astonishing 4,300,000 in 2030. At the moment and average of 15 to 20 flights go from Blackpool every day, by 2030 this is expected to go up to 141 a day.

One of the problems they are likely to face is long term parking at Blackpool Airport. With such an increase in the amount of passengers, they are going to have to find space for extra car parks.

As well as this, cheap parking at Blackpool Airport is necessary as extortionate parking prices may put people off. Like many other airports around the UK who are planning to expand, they are likely to find themselves faced with conflict and hostility from those concerned about the environment, noise and an increase in traffic.