Comment: JLA can build on its success

Mar 13 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

IT IS excellent news that Liverpool John Lennon airport is on course to make a profit for the first time in its history. Although the figures are not official yet, owners Peel Holdings have revealed that a "maiden profit" is expected to be returned by the airport, a turnaround on a recorded pre- tax loss of £1.7m last year.

For the many thousands of passengers who regularly use the airport every year, it will no doubt come as a surprise that JLA is not already profitable.

Despite losing a number of key routes in the previous 12 months – including high-profile links to London and New York – new ones are being added all the time, which means that JLA is punching well above its weight compared with other airports of similar size.

But the biggest plus factor in boosting passenger numbers to record levels must be Liverpool’s high profile in the run-up to Capital of Culture year, and its growing international reputation.

Peel has invested some £100m in JLA, and it is that sort of investment which has helped attract operators such as Ryanair and Wizzair to Liverpool, in addition to Easyjet, who have been operating from the airport for 10 years.

This represents an amazing turnaround for the airport which – when it was taken over by Peel – flew to just three scheduled destinations. It is now the third largest regional airport for international scheduled flights, behind Birmingham and Manchester.

However, the facilities are being put in place at JLA to ensure this profit is unlikely to be a one-off. A new hotel and car park are in the process of being built, while improvements have also been made to the inside of the terminal. The airport is now aiming to attract more European destinations over the course of the year.

As an important gateway to Liverpool and, for many visitors, the first glimpse they have of the city, it is vital these improvements continue and are built on for the future. It is good to see that the airport is not resting on its laurels and intends to do just that.