In a statement, Balfour Beatty said: “We regret to announce that no agreement has been reached to secure the future of operations at Blackpool Airport. The airport operation has been making a loss for a number of years and unfortunately there is no option for the company other than to close.”
It added: “While the sales process announced at the end of August was a final attempt to secure the future of the airport, the airport's management had spent many months prior to this announcement approaching organisations with a potential interest in the airport in an attempt to find a buyer.”
The airport will remain open only until 15th October 2014, after which time commercial flights will cease.
Balfour Beatty bought the airport from Mar Properties in 2008 for £14m. The then chief executive, Ian Tyler, said at the time: “We believe that our approach will deliver significant, sustained growth in passenger traffic at the airport and will generate important economic benefits for it and for Blackpool.”
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