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Blow to Coventry airport expansion plans
Plans for a new terminal at Coventry airport capable of handling two million passengers a year have been rejected.
Airport bosses voiced “utmost disappointment” that, following second public inquiry, the government had turned down the application for the terminal which was to be part of a £50 million capital expenditure programme.
Managing director Chris Orphanou said: “We are bitterly disappointed with this decision as an airport and because of the impact it will have on the region. Our legal team will now be considering the full implications of the news.”
He added: “Despite this setback, we believe our investment plans will only be delayed slightly.
“We still have capacity at our existing facility and most importantly, all our airlines remain confident with Coventry airport.
“We have already invested more than £5 million as part of the improvement programme and we will continue to move forward with developing other aspects of the business, in particular our airline route network.”
Thomsonfly operates flights to 13 European destinations from Coventry and Wizz Air is to serve Katowice in Poland from next month.
There is considerable interest from scheduled and charter airlines about operating from Coventry, claimed Orphanou.
He described the decision to turn down the terminal planning application as “extremely short-sighted and not in the best interests of the region”.
Orphanou added: “We have established strong working relationships with local businesses, Chambers of Commerce, local communities, tourist bodies and tour operators to promote Coventry and the economic development of the West Midlands. Today’s negative outcome is a stumbling block we intend to overcome.”
The airport was acquired in January 2006 by CAFCO-C, a joint venture between Howard Holdings plc and Convergence International Airports Organisation.
At the time of the acquisition CAFCO-C pledged to improve the airport to accommodate an anticipated increase in passengers and the company has already invested more than £5 million as part of the improvement programme.
by Phil Davies
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