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John Dundas · Guest

EasyJet and MoD in talks over airport at fighter base

GUY DIXON and DAN BRENNAN

http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/scotland.cfm?id=735102003
EASYJET is in talks with the Ministry of Defence over plans to create a
low-cost airport at RAF Leuchars, the fighter base in Fife.

The no-frills airline is planning a huge expansion programme after recently
placing an order for 120 new aircraft and is looking for bases around the UK
from which to operate new services.

It says the MoD approached easyJet in June after the airline placed
advertisements in the European press asking any airports interested in
hosting commercial flights to contact them.

RAF Leuchars, a working fighter base operating the Tornado F3 aircraft, was
one of 50 airports across Europe to respond to the ad, the airline said. A
short-list of sites has since been drawn up, although talks with RAF
Leuchars are at an early stage and a decision is not expected before the
autumn.

A spokeswoman for easyJet said the decision to advertise in the press had
been as much a "public relations exercise" as a serious business
proposition.

She said: "We put an advert out about a month ago, and RAF Leuchars
responded to that. It was kind of a PR exercise. Our team are assessing what
they have put forward. Talks are ongoing. I don't think anything is likely
to happen until September or October."

Low-cost airlines such as easyJet are increasingly attracted to smaller,
provincial runways because of the higher landing charges levied at
established airports such as Edinburgh and Glasgow.

EasyJet already operates services from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and
Inverness.

The MoD is keen to utilise any spare capacity it has to bring in money from
the private sector. The proximity of RAF Leuchars to Dundee and St Andrews
means it has previously been linked with other airlines looking to cater for
tourists and well-heeled students travelling to St Andrews University.

A scheme, Project Pioneer, was set up last year to explore the potential for
bringing commercial services to the military base in partnership with
Scottish Enterprise Fife, Fife Council and the Scottish Executive.

A business development manager was promoted to oversee this process, which
culminated in 19 carriers expressing an interest last August.

Yesterday, a spokeswoman for the MoD declined to comment specifically on
easyJet, but said RAF Leuchars was in talks with a number of carriers.

She said: "We considered very carefully all the proposals which companies
submitted and this has inevitably taken some time. We also have to evaluate
the changing requirements of the RAF and its operating bases."

It has been estimated the base could handle up to five commercial flights a
day, but they would have to fit in with air force operations.

The MOD said a decision on the issue was not imminent, and stressed the
effectiveness and safety of the airport would not be compromised.

John Dundas · Guest

"John Dundas" <j.m.dundas (AT) btinternet (DOT) spamcom> wrote

blimpie · Guest