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Jim Mason · Guest

Glasgow Airport unveils vision for the future

BAA News release 25/07/04

Airport operator launches extensive public consultation

Up to 24 million passengers a year by 2030
As many as 28,000 new jobs across Scotland
More international scheduled services, including long haul
New second international pier planned to meet rising demand for overseas
travel
Provision for second runway
Additional terminal possible, if forecasts exceed expectations
All developments underpinned by environmental strategies
A world class gateway, linking Glasgow to destinations across the globe,
providing thousands of new jobs and generating hundreds of millions of
pounds for the Scottish economy.

That was the vision for Glasgow Airport outlined today by airport
operator BAA Scotland as Scotland?s busiest international airport
published its blueprint for the future.

The Glasgow Airport Outline Master Plan was formally launched today by
BAA Scotland?s managing director Donal Dowds and Glasgow Airport
managing director Stephen Baxter.

Donal Dowds said: ?Today?s outline master plan is a bold, imaginative
document. It sets out how Scotland?s busiest airport will develop over
the next quarter century, the impact it will have on the economic well
being of Scotland, and the benefits it will bring in terms of job
creation and tourism.?

The report looks in detail at how Glasgow Airport will develop over the
next ten years and then in more general terms at the period up to 2030.

Passenger numbers at Glasgow Airport have increased by more than 60% in
the past decade, rising from 5.4 million in 1995 to almost 8.7 million
today. The outline master plan forecasts that by 2015, the airport could
handle between 12 and 15 million passengers, with around 125,000 annual
landings and take-offs.

Beyond 2015, to 2030, Glasgow Airport could be handling up to 24 million
passengers, with more than half travelling direct to and from
international destinations.

Increasing volumes of traffic will require considerable investment in
airfield facilities. To meet forecast demand, the construction of rapid
access and exit taxiways and an additional section of parallel taxiway
will be required in the period to 2015. More aircraft stands will be
required to cater for larger sized aircraft, particularly as the airport
continues to attract new international destinations.

BAA Glasgow has made provision for a second runway, should it be
required. The outline master plan includes two sets of indicative plans
for the period between 2015 and 2030 ? one showing the airport with a
single runway, the other showing how the airport could accommodate twin
parallel runways. Ultimately the market, and passenger demand, will
determine whether there is a need for a second runway.

Airport development up to 2015 can be accommodated on land currently
owned by BAA. Beyond 2015, additional land to the east of Abbotsinch
Road will be required.

In order to meet passenger growth, the terminal will be significantly
extended and reconfigured to provide more check-in desks, baggage
systems and departure lounges.

The first stage of this development programme, a £6 million expansion of
the international wing of the terminal is currently underway, and is set
for completion in autumn 2005. Within the next ten years, a second
international pier and ten new aircraft stands will also be built to the
west of the existing international pier to cater for the forecast growth
in international travel.

Beyond 2015, the existing east pier will be replaced by a modern and
significantly longer pier.

Should passenger numbers grow at a higher rate than forecast, and
Glasgow were to develop as a twin parallel runway by 2030, it is
possible an additional terminal would be built.

Good surface access will be critical to Glasgow Airport?s ability to
grow. The outline master plan calls for improvements to the M8 between
junctions 26 and 29 to allow current and future traffic volumes to
access the motorway in a safe manner.

BAA Scotland is committed to increasing the numbers of passengers who
access its airports by public transport and looks forward to more choice
and a properly integrated surface access system. Proposals by
Strathclyde Passenger Transport for a rail link between Glasgow Airport
and Glasgow Central Station are well advanced. The rail link could be
operational by the end of 2008.

Clearly, future growth of the airport will impact on local communities
and the environment. The outline master plan sets out a series of
strategies for managing environmental impacts. The airport will grow in
a sustainable and responsible manner. Any development will take place
incrementally to ensure, as far as possible, that additional capacity
closely matches passenger demand.

A 2002 study by the Fraser of Allander Institute found that Glasgow
Airport contributes more than £700 million a year to the economy and
supports 15,700 jobs across Scotland, with more than 5,000 people
directly employed at the airport. As the airport expands, the number of
people directly employed at Glasgow Airport is forecast to rise to 8,200
in 2015 and to 12,000 by 2030, an increase of some 7,000 jobs.

If the number of indirect employment opportunities increases in line
with recent trends, a further 21,000 jobs could be created.

The outline master plan also suggests Glasgow Airport will become an
increasingly important freight hub. With international air services
expected to grow significantly, Glasgow?s cargo business is forecast to
grow from 8,700 tonnes today to 13,000 tonnes by 2015 and almost 20,000
tonnes by 2030.

Stephen Baxter, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: ?Today, as
we glimpse into the future, we see an airport serving Scotland?s largest
city, generating hundreds of millions of pounds for the Scottish economy
every year and creating thousands of new jobs. A 21st century gateway
for the west of Scotland, serving as many as 24 million passengers, many
of them flying direct from Glasgow to destinations across the globe,
with millions more using Glasgow as their gateway into Scotland. This is
our vision for the Glasgow Airport of tomorrow. Its impact, on
employment, travel, tourism and the economy, will be considerable.?

Following today?s launch, a three month consultation period will get
underway, during which Glasgow Airport will invite local residents,
politicians and business leaders to have their say on the future
development of the airport. A series of public meetings will also be
held across the region. Following the consultation a final version of
the master plan will be published at the end of 2005.

Stephen Baxter 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 issues. We
recognise that we can only grow with the support and trust of the
communities we serve.?

Copies of the Master Plan can be downloaded here

http://makeashorterlink.com/?S28112E7B
http://makeashorterlink.com/?A27132E7B

or by writing to Airport Master Plan Consultation, BAA Glasgow, St.
Andrew?s Drive, Glasgow Airport, Paisley, PA3 2SW. The consultation
closes on 28 October 2005.

Notes to Editors:

?In December 2003 the UK Government published a White Paper, The Future
of Air Transport, which set out a framework for the development of
airport capacity up to 2030. The White Paper requires specified airports
to produce master plans setting out detailed proposals for future
development up to 2015, and indicative plans for the period between 2016
? 2030. The final Master Plan will be published at the end of 2005 and
will be reviewed every five years.

Opened in 1966, Glasgow Airport is Scotland?s busiest international
airport with over 8.6 million passengers flying to more than 100
destinations worldwide. Glasgow is Scotland?s long haul gateway, with
flights to the United States, Canada, Dubai, North Africa and the
Caribbean. The airport supports more than 15,700 jobs and contributes
over £700 million to the Scottish economy. BAA Glasgow will invest £250
million at Glasgow Airport over the next ten years to facilitate growth.