Ryanair seeks damages from Newquay Airport
14.01.09
Ryanair plans to sue Cornwall County Council over the closure of Newquay Airport last month. The budget airline said it was working out a figure, but the claim would include the damage to its reputation, because it had to cancel flights at the last minute. Press reports suggest that it would be for 'hundreds of thousands of pounds'. The county council refused to comment on what it called 'a contractual issue'.
Newquay Airport was closed to flights from the beginning of last month until December 19 because of a delay in an aviation licence being granted to the county council. Cornwall County Council, which owns the airport, had been due to take over air traffic operations from the RAF on 1 December, but the airport was closed until 19 December for work to meet Civil Aviation Authority standards.
As part of its take-over operation, the council had to resurface the runway, build a new air traffic control tower and improve security. However, the CAA deemed the works were not suitable at the beginning of the month, when the licence was due to be issued, and it delayed its approval. As a result, Ryanair cancelled its flights between Newquay and Stansted airport, until March 2, although some of this was almost certainly due to low demand on what is primarily a holiday route.
The Western Morning News reports that the other two airlines that use the airport, Air Southwest and Skybus, will also seek compensation. It quotes 'industry insiders' saying that both are likely to try and recoup from the council additional costs incurred during the closure.
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