Not for the nail...
Perhaps...but hitting a nail in a head....can be disaster.
I think that just about hits the nail on the head.
I think i'm correct in saying France has the most 'regional' airports than anywhere else in Europe. In other words there are too many.. This is why so many are struggling to survive.
Closing Bergerac would be annoying for Bergerac users but hey, Limoges isn't that far away not to mention Bordeaux
Closure of Bergerac and the like are inevitable and restructuring will ultimately help everyone.
Yes, but not only. It needs more runway and taxi way capacity. I only had an EASA LAPL licence, so only for small light aircraft, but many airports specifically used by them have two strips. Bergerac has no capacity for a flight take off and landing at the same time or close to each other within the allotted time spaces, thus the required space between landings and take offs is long to begin with, then taxiing and refuelling, passenger and luggage loading restricted. It is probably a vast investment with no assured return but just where would a second runway be? If they were to expand flights such as get the Casablanca route back, then that means immigration authorities and customs would have to be given better facilities. They are there anyway for non-EU passengers who come via transit rather than from within an EU country, but have no capacity for anything ambitious. More money for their facilities rather than personnel. However, yes it is a bit of a drag when there is a delay departing but investing in a restaurant for what is really a flight passenger 'sausage machine' seems a total waste without the rest of it.
If it IS necessary to keep the airport going....
Better organisation of the space and facilities should be made.
Where there is a will there is a way!
I agree it is a bus stop but then know far worse including the main airport at some capital cities around the world, not all in 'developing' countries. It is much like pre-1980s Stansted before investment went in. The news was about a huge deficit, which is an anathema to politicians because it means they have to do something and in their terms quickly. At present money is going into Périgueux Bassillac Airport, for instance Rumbo offer a flight to Stansted and are increasing destinations (laugh and laugh again at the name of the company then book to fly to El Prat Barcelona!). There is something terribly wrong in the choice of sites though. In both cases they have chosen a small 'plateau' on which an existing aerodrome, once mainly air force probably, stands but expansion is limited. However, they are regional airports. If every small, local airport was developed then they would all probably go broke, which might seem illogical but we saw in the early 1990s in the UK when it was tried. There is also air traffic and very strict regulations that are particularly important for ascent into descent from air lanes into landing paths and likewise take off to ascent into the flight paths. That limits how many flights an airport can take and not the apparent capacity. Bear in mind that it is used as much by private flights anyway. In summer when the five companies using Bergerac (Ryanair, Flybe, Transavia, Jet2 and Twin Jet) are all fully operational, some have alternate days because everyday is not possible. Flybe looks like they are going to switch airport, Michael O'Leary has already spoken about moving Ryanair to Bordeaux which would leave the other three and that would be that.
What occurs to me is what a local businessman we know said. He is selling one of two hotels he owns to concentrate on 'retail outlets'. He is thinking about offloading the second hotel soon as well. He is not local but a Parisian who has been here for 30 years or so yet still thinks as somebody from the 'centre'. He has said that the Bergerac - Périgueux balance has swung almost entirely in favour of the latter. When he arrived in this area he says that Bergerac and the surrounding area was far more prosperous and popular than Périgueux although that is the departmental capital. However, development of the two cities has seen Périgueux vastly improved. Not only does it have far better modern facilities and is bringing tourism on by leaps and bounds plus transport connections are far better, including intercity rail to Paris with Limoges and, and, and, and... Between the two cities the rail connection is two and a third times longer than the road connections, including the fact that the N21 road between the two is best accessible from one side of Bergerac but a bit of a pain from the other. So, this man wishes he had settled in the Périgueux region rather than Bergerac. Tourism is flagging hereabouts but then, he asked quite a while ago with regard to the amenities there, why aren't the communes that are whinging about it contributing to the airport?
The weather, well Barbara yes compared to London now, nothing like of old, it is mist. However, I have been nearly an hour from Creysse to Collège Eugène Leroy which is on your side of the city not far off Avenue du Général de Gaulle because of fog on the N21/D936 past the airport when taking my daughter. It is usually 10 to 12 minutes. The traffic slows down and jams at the roundabouts. Not often, but on those days it is not airport traffic because there are no flights. That is back to it being a 'plateau' surrounded by open land and a couple of rivers.
I raised the topic here, but whenever I fly I tend to use Bordeaux because Bergerac is naturally limited. Périgueux Bassillac is only about 15 minutes longer to reach than Bergerac and given that there is the possibility of adding a rail spur to connect easily with Périgueux St Georges station and a new road is proposed anyway... For me it is not really that important but it could be a blow to the Bergerac area which may also contribute to the general depression hereabouts. It will interesting to see what plans come up for dealing with the deficit and stimulus, if any but is necessary, to keep the airport going.
A cut price airline airport is not somewhere to spend any time. People visit them for price and convenience. We are fortunate in that we live in beautiful surroundings and enjoy a wide variety of bars, cafes and restaurants. Putting anything other than a cheap and cheerful drinks and snacks outlet at the airport would be a waste of time and effort. If the airport needs more revenue then that money has to come from the passengers, directly through airport taxes, not indirectly from cups of coffee and car parking.
Boys!
It is not a bus stop.
It is a very useful airport...which could be a whole lot better.
The tourist industry is relevant to all of us in the region.
It is not just about the gites it is about underpinning the wine
industry restaurants, car hire companies and shops.
Bordeaux airport is ok and an hour and a half away from me
on an average day...but Bergerac is 30 mins or less.
53.000 people arrived at this airport in Aug...I am told.
Not forgetting the people who went there to greet the travellers.
The fog is just a winter mist at Bergerac airport and reminds us
of the changing seasons.
Now Billy is possibly every thing a bus shelter could desire to
be.
A bus stop is exactly what it is. If you wanted an ice cream to eat while waiting for a bus you wouldn’t expect the bus stop to sell them.
http://dordogne.angloinfo.com/forum/viewtopic/52110/0/back-to-bergerac-airports-problems-again/60
Sorry to have to post a link to knucklegrazers central but too much fluff about this . Its simply a question of who can pay for what and have the right to do so. There's really very little threat to Bergerac airport although we may all have to suffer Bab's interpretation of an airport caff.For my part I would rather fly into Bordeaux where Mr O'Leary has established a firm base and all the aviation infrastructure is in place. Sensibly O'Leary avoids the difficult times of the year. I wouldn't like to fly into Bergerac in mid January in fog. It's a summer time bus stop.
there Are so many things!!!!!
The flights are busy.
Maybe there should be more of them.
I would love to speak with the directors of the airport!
There is so many things which could be possible...
ouch...I know that a few people are screaming at me in the background.
There is a Bergerac wine tour ....lovely tour with a picnic and visit to
a choccy place. He lives in London and does the tour in spring and summer.
He is busy.
The café in the airport.....oh
We can do better surely.
And how nice it would be to stop for 20 mins before a flight with
a savoury something and some decent coffee or a great ice cream on a hot day.
DOES any one know Michel Conte?????