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Glasgow Cleared for Takeoff With Pounds 200m Expansion ; 'Master Plan' Aims to Make Airport International Hub

Posted on: Wednesday, 27 July 2005, 18:00 CDT

A Pounds 200MILLION 'master plan' to turn Glasgow Airport into a major international gateway was unveiled yesterday by aviation chiefs.

The proposed 25- year project would triple the airport's capacity, enabling it to handle up to 24million passengers a year.

Owners BAA Scotland also hope to build a second runway and a new 'pier' of international departure gates within the next decade.

The master plan, which will not be finalised until the end of this year, includes proposals to improve road access to the airport and create a direct rail link to the city centre.

If approved, BAA claims the moves could generate up to 28,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of pounds for the nation's economy.

Glasgow Airport managing director Stephen Baxter said last night: 'It will be a 21st century gateway for the west of Scotland, serving millions of passengers many of them flying direct from Glasgow to destinations across the globe.

'The impact on employment, travel, tourism and the economy will be considerable.' Figures from a Fraser of Allander Institute study in 2002 show the airport already generates about Pounds 700million a year for the economy through business and tourism.

Around 5,000 people are directly employed at the airport and BAA expects this to rise to 12,000 by 2030.

Independent studies suggest a further 21,000 jobs would be created indirectly by the increase in tourism and other services to the city.

Eleven days ago, the airport experienced its busiest day in its 39-year history with 41,500 holidaymakers jetting off on Glasgow Fair Friday.

The master plan aims to further boost passenger numbers from 8.7million a year to 15million by 2015.

A Pounds 6 million revamp of the airport's international departures hall is already under way and due for completion in the autumn.

Under the new proposals, the main terminal building would be expanded and redesigned over the next ten years to cater for more checkin desks, baggage systems and departure lounges.

On the tarmac, more taxiways and aircraft stands would also be created to cope with bigger planes. Additional land has been set aside for a second runway and bosses want to create a new access road from the M8 motorway to ease congestion.

The M74 extension will also allow passengers coming from the south and east of the city to reach the airport without crossing the Kingston Bridge, which suffers severe congestion during rush hours.

Artist impressions show plans to pedestrianise the present road in front of the main terminal by 2015 to create a walkway with pavement cafEs.

A rail link with the city centre is also scheduled for completion in 2008.

Last summer, Glasgow Airport opened a second terminal to cater for more than 1.5million passengers a year travelling with nofrills airlines such as easyJet, MyTravel and Thomas Cook.

But if passenger numbers exceed the predicted 24million by 2030, another main terminal would have to be built to cope with the demand.

People living in the west of Scotland will have the chance to study the master plan at a series of public meetings in the next three months.

Mr Baxter said their opinion would be taken into account before the plan is finalised at the end of the year.

He added: ' The airport brings many benefits to the local community, not least in terms of jobs and investment.

'However, we recognise there are disadvantages associated with living close to the airport.

We will work with local communities to address these.'

Source: Daily Mail; London (UK)

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