Blackpool Airport petition to go before councillors

Blackpool South MP Scott Benton started the petition

The signatures have been collected by Blackpool South MP Scott Benton who pledged to support the return of commercial aviation as part of his 2019 General Election campaign.

Of the 8,125 signatures, the council says 1,618 are listed with an FY postcode meaning the petition has passed the threshold of 1,500 signatures (from the Fylde coast area) required to trigger a council debate.

The council bought the airport from Balfour Beatty in September 2017 for £4.25m, but has always ruled out the return of commercial passenger jets saying services would be unviable.

But Mr Benton said: "There is widespread support across Blackpool for reopening the airport for commercial passenger flights.

"I started this petition in the autumn and have been delighted by the fantastic support that it has received. Over 8,000 people signing the petition is an incredible result.

"Re-opening Blackpool Airport for commercial passenger flights would provide a huge boost to the local economy in the longer-term.

"Restoring passenger flights would make it easier and cheaper for local people to travel around the UK and abroad, and would make it easier for people to travel here, boosting tourism and helping to create more jobs and investment.

"The aviation industry is obviously going through a very difficult period at the moment because of the economic impact of Covid-19 but this does not change the longer-term importance of the airport to Blackpool."

Documents submitted with the petition say a recent poll of more than 7,800 Blackpool residents showed 96 per cent supported reopening Blackpool Airport for commercial passenger flights.

Councillors will debate the issue and can either agree to set out a strategy to look into reopening the airport to commercial flights, or dismiss the petition completely.

Before its last flight in 2014, airline Jet2 had two aircraft based at Blackpool and at its peak was operating 11 different routes from the resort.

Monday's full council meeting is being held on Zoom, starts at 6pm and can be viewed online.