Airport enters talks to restore London link

Jun 30 2007 By Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL John Lennon Airport officials last night revealed they hoped to reinstate a flight link to London in time for Capital of Culture year, after the current service was terminated yesterday.

The last flight to London took off from Speke at 7.05pm, bringing to an end a service which started in February, 2004.

The airport and previous operator VLM are in talks with several other airlines, which have not been disclosed, to get the route up and running again.

JLA spokesman Robin Tudor said: “We continue to speak to airlines to re-establish the link and want to do this for the Capital of Culture year.

“We believe that 2008 will be a pulling factor for airlines to oper- ate here and we remain positive.

“The buzz created by the events and the business opportunities will increase demand for the flights to and from the capital; it is really important to us.

“There is a huge strategic importance in re-instating the link and it fits so well with the renaissance on Merseyside.

“We know there is a demand there from the people of the region, and when you look at how many people travel to Manchester Airport from Merseyside you can see that.”

Chief executive of Liverpool’s Chamber of Commerce, Jack Stopforth, last night threw his weight behind a push to resume flights.

He said: “The London air link has a psychological value as well as a business benefit to the city.

“With it, Liverpool will attract more visitors during 2008. The Chamber will support any initiative to restore a London air link.

“Although a link to Heathrow would be more beneficial to our members, we support the link to any airport.”

VLM Airlines still needs to be involved in the discussions because the company hold the time slots at London City Airport. Time slots at peak times are limited, so negotiations need to consider this option.

But it is possible that any new service would not necessarily be from London City. Other London airports are being mooted, because they could attract tourists as well as business users.

A spokesman from VLM, who became involved after the Daily Post’s successful Fight for a Flight campaign, said: “VLM Airlines has been in negotiation with a number of other airlines which had expressed an interest in continuing its service between Liverpool and London City.

“Unfortunately, these negotiations have thus far not resulted in any agreement to continue operating the air link.

“However, VLM Airlines would welcome the opportunity to engage in discussions with any other airline that would be interested in operating the service.”

Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “Virgin have plans in place to increase the frequency of their train service which will give us extra links with the capital and I hope that as the city’s economy continues to grow it is possible that another airline may find that the route is viable.

“I am disappointed that the VLM service has not been successful but it has come at a time of improvements to the rail service and the Government’s flight tax.”

THERE were 24 people booked on to the 50-seat plane for the final flight from Liverpool to London, and most people were disappointed to see the service ending.

Marc Hendrix, a doctor from Belgium, was visiting Liverpool for a medical conference.

He flew from Antwerp, via London, and was on the return leg yesterday. He said: “It’s a shame if the flight is stopping because it has been a very good, convenient service.”

Bashi Vellayudhan, from India, was also attending the conference, and he said: “It was a good service, but the train probably would have been a better way to come here.

“There were problems getting to the airport, I had loads of delays, and with all the security checks and other formalities, it took so long. So it took me about four hours to get here altogether when it’s only three hours, if that, by train.”

Another passenger, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s a service I use quite regularly; it is a great service for business people like me who don’t want to have to walk three miles at an airport like Heathrow.

“I thought they had a nice little niche and it’s a shame they’re dropping it.

“I will definitely use it if it’s reinstated,” he added.

But Simon Martin, a regular visitor to Liverpool on business, said: “They should never have changed the morning flight times to nine o’clock.

“It’s just too late and no good for people wanting to go to London on business, which wasn’t the case when they had the earlier morning flights.”

OPINION: PAGE 6

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