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james73 · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:12 pm Post subject: Glasgow Airport Extension thread

Countdown as airport’s new Skyhub takes shape

GLASGOW Airport's new £30million extension is just 200 days from opening to
passengers.

The countdown to the launch of the futuristic building came as construction
workers finished the first phase on time.

The metal structure of Skyhub now dominates the former site of the walkway
between the main terminal and T2.

It will house the most advanced security zone in the UK when it opens in
October, and it represents the biggest single investment at the airport
since the international pier opened in 1994.

All passengers will be channelled through the two-storey hub, which will
have bars, shops and restaurants.

Gordon Dewar, the airport's managing director, joined staff from contractors
Balfour Beatty at a special ceremony to mark the completion of the main structure.

He said: "We are delighted with the progress being made.

"With Skyhub, everything will be under one roof.

"No matter where you're travelling, once you've passed through security,
you can eat, shop or relax any- where in the terminal."

The 4000sq ft security zone - the size of a football pitch - will be bathed in
natural light as the entire front of the building will be covered in translucent
cladding.

The revolutionary system, called Kalwall, has been used at Orlando Sanford
Airport in Florida, Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and Nasa's base at Cape
Canaveral.

The material is energy- efficient, allows daylight to flood into the building
and retains heat.

Skyhub is part of a planned £200m, 10-year investment at Glasgow Airport
by operator BAA Scotland.

James H
_________________
Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

james73 · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 1:31 pm Post subject:

BAA may be forced to sell off Glasgow Airport

GLASGOW Airport could be sold off at the end of the year as part of a drive
to offer air passengers more choice and cheaper flights.

Speculation was today triggered by a damning report from the Competition
Commission into the ownership of seven UK airports by BAA.

The Spanish operator runs Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Southampton
in England as well as Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland.

The commission is due to publish another report in Augus, when it's expected
to recommend that BAA sell of at least one airport in England and another
in Scotland. It's fuelled speculation that one of the Scottish airports will be
either Edinburgh or Glasgow, which is undergoing expansion with the new
Skyhub.

Such a move was today welcomed by Rick Green, chief executive of budget
airline flyglobespan.

He said: "Should the commission come to the conclusion that one of them
should be under independent ownership, it would be hard to argue how
that could be anything but a benefit to the Scottish traveller."

Mr Green added: "We have a duty as Scotland's leading airline to continuously
offer our customers value for money and any action as a result of the
commission's findings that drives down costs would be welcomed."

The commission today said BAA's common ownership of seven UK airports
"may not be serving well the interests of either airlines or passengers."

James H
_________________
Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

james73 · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject:

Owner set to put airport up for sale (Evening Times)

Glasgow Airport was today said to be on the brink of a sell-off.

Reports say Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial is looking at plans to put
the airport on the market this month in a bid to avoid a full-scale break-up
of the company being imposed by UK watchdogs.

Any sale would effectively smash Ferrovial's near monopoly in Scotland: the
company's subsidiary BAA, the former British Airports Authority, owns
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports and controls more than three-
quarters of the Scottish market.

Airlines argue competition between Glasgow and Edinburgh airports could
bring down fares and have urged competition authorities to force BAA to
sell one or the other.

Earlier this year, the Competition Commission warned the BAA monopoly
in both Scotland and the south-east of England may be hurting
passengers.

Yesterday, media reports suggested the commission was now sure BAA's
control of seven British airports, including London's Gatwick, Stansted and
Heathrow, was harmful to the market.

Unnamed legal sources have been cited saying the next round of findings
would be an important step towards an order for BAA to sell an airport in
Scotland and an airport in England.

James H
_________________
Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

james73 · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject:

£1bn price tag if Glasgow Airport is sold off (Evening Times)

GLASGOW Airport could have a price tag of more than £1billion if it is sold off.

BAA bosses were left furious today after the Competition Commission
signalled the break up of its UK empire and recommended it lose control of
either Glasgow or Edinburgh airport.

With business passenger numbers growing at Edinburgh while Glasgow
relies more on charter flights, it's thought the west of Scotland airport is
the more likely to be sold.

Bosses said it was "business as usual" at the airports today but made
plain their intention to fight the ruling during the consultation period.

The Competition Commission also said Spanish-owned BAA should give
up two of its three of its London airports - Heathrow, Gatwick and
Stansted.

It said there were competition problems at each of BAA's seven UK
airports "with adverse consequences for passengers and airlines".

The sell-off was welcomed by Cathcart MSP Charlie Gordon who, when he
was leader of Glasgow City Council, was a strong critic of BAA and floated
the idea of buying the airport.

James H
_________________
Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

james73 · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:24 am Post subject:

Lower fares and fewer queues (Evening Times)

MANCHESTER Airport bosses today confirmed they are actively considering
a bid to take over the BAA-run Glasgow Airport.

And - if the move goes ahead - they have pledged to lower fares and
improve waiting times and customer service.

Manchester Airports Group, which is owned by the 10 local authorities of
Greater Manchester, said the Glasgow operation fitted its business
portfolio.

The group favours a take-over of Glasgow, rather than Edinburgh,
because of its size and location.

MAG's external affairs director Jonathan Bailey described Glasgow Airport
as a "great opportunity" in the wake of yesterday's Competition
Commission report.

The report recommended that Spanish-owned BAA should lose control of
either Glasgow or Edinburgh Airport as well as two of the three London
airports.

The Manchester group also operates East Midlands, Bournemouth and
Humberside Airports.

James H
_________________
Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

james73 · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:03 pm Post subject:

New airport terminal set for take-off (Evening Times)

AIRPORT bosses in Glasgow are getting ready for the launch of their new
£31million terminal building.

Passengers will start using the ground floor of the Skyhub from Tuesday.

One of the attractions will be a new bar, which has set back one of Britain's
favourite publicans a cool £900,000 and will create 50 jobs.

A week later, on Tuesday, October 28, the terminal building will become
fully operational and will include a new £12million security search area on
the first floor, which will also have duty-free shopping and extra seats.

The extra terminal will offer holidaymakers and business passengers a
selection of shops, bars and restaurants over two floors.

High Street pub chain JD Wetherspoon will open The Sandpiper on
Tuesday while keeping open an existing pub at the airport where up to 40
staff are employed.

The new pub takes its name from a species of bird being protected at a
wildlife sanctuary not far from the airport. The new Wetherspoon's will
serve customers alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as well as coffee and
tea and a range of snacks.

James H
_________________
Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

james73 · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:24 pm Post subject:

Airport extension takes off as 1st phase unveiled (Evening Times)

THE first phase of a £31million extension to Glasgow Airport's terminal
opened to passengers today.

A major new ground floor arrivals hall for UK domestic flights was the first
part of the project to be unveiled.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Derek Mackay greeted the first arriving
domestic passengers through the new terminal extension, arriving from
Belfast at 7.20am.

A bar and restaurant was also opened and other retail outlets will open
soon in the new sky hub terminal.

The second phase of the development, a £12m security area, will come
into operation next week, replacing the three existing search areas.

From next Tuesday all departing passengers will be routed through the
central search area on the terminal's first floor.

James H
_________________
Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

Lone Groover · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:33 pm Post subject:

"The 4000sq ft security zone - the size of a football pitch - will be bathed in
natural light as the entire front of the building will be covered in translucent
cladding. "

I don't know where to start - it will be the greyest place in Scotland.......

oooh they are sooooo clever !!!!!!!!!!
_________________
I don't know what your problem is, but I bet it's hard to pronounce !

james73 · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 5:22 pm Post subject:

Glasgow Airport unveil new security search area (Evening Times)

A new security search area at one of Scotland's busiest airports was unveiled
today, marking the latest phase of a £31 million expansion.

From 4am, passengers at Glasgow Airport began passing through the terminal's
new security zone which replaces three separate check areas.

International and domestic departures have been combined in an effort to
increase capacity and reduce passengers' wait times.

New shops, bars and restaurants are planned for the former security areas,
creating 250 jobs by June next year.

Glasgow Airport deals with about 9 million passengers a year and serves as
the country's long-haul gateway to the US, Canada, Egypt and other far-flung
destinations.

Operator BAA said the new arrangements had been going down well with
travellers. The airport's managing director Amanda McMillan said: "Security
is our number one priority and we have invested heavily to build one of the
largest security search areas in the UK, using the latest x-ray technology to
speed passengers safely through the airport.

"Over the course of the next few months, we will begin upgrading the existing
terminal building to provide additional seating areas, new shops and catering
facilities.

"For passengers, it means a smoother journey through the airport, more space
to relax and a wider choice of bars, shops and restaurants."

The £12 million football pitch-sized security area took about 18 months to build.

James H
_________________
Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

james73 · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject:

Glasgow Airport boost as BAA sale targets capital (Evening Times)

THE long-term future of Glasgow Airport was secured today after owners
BAA Scotland were ordered to sell Edinburgh Airport.

Regulators will force the sale of the capital's gateway instead of Glasgow
in a bid to increase competition in Scotland.

The Competition Commission also wants BAA to dispose of Gatwick and
Stansted as it tries to loosen the Spanish firm's market stranglehold.

The findings are included in a provisional report by the watchdog released
this morning.

BAA, which has been under fire for months for poor performance, runs
seven UK airports, including Heathrow.

James H
_________________
Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...