The prospect of a revival of Blackpool airport has emerged as it came under the control of a wholly-owned subsidiary of the local council.
Civil Aviation Authority operating licences have been transferred into the control of Blackpool Airport Operations Limited (BAOL) after six months of work behind the scenes.
The airport was acquired by the council from Balfour Beatty in 2017 for £4.25 million after it had been temporarily closed due to mounting debts.
The last commercial flights from the airport operated to the Isle of Man in 2015.
The take-over aimed to save it from the risk of permanent closure and to secure its long-term future as part of the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.
Blackpool Council has spent almost £2 million on the upgrade and maintenance of essential infrastructure, with further “significant investment” planned.
The site had been run until October by Regional and City Airports, part of the Rigby Group, which owns four airports and had the licences to run others, including Blackpool.
The award of the CAA licences to BAOL allows the company to take direct control of the airport management; the first step in achieving the airport’s longer term goals.
The council wants to “ensure a long-term, sustainable future for one of England’s oldest airports and a key strategic asset for the Fylde Coast”.
Councillor Gillian Campbell, chair of the board at BAOL, said: “We set off on this journey recognising the size and complexity of the task ahead, and enlisted the help of aviation specialist, transition manager Sally Franks, to lead the team through the transition period.
“The whole team has done an outstanding job, working tirelessly with the CAA and the outgoing management company to ensure a smooth and seamless transition of operations.
“Blackpool airport is back in control of its own destiny and we’re excited to be at the threshold of a new era where we can build a bigger, brighter, more profitable future.”