EGPF Forum

The Scottish Government should “either support one or two flights to North America from Glasgow or stop doing route development funding altogether”, the chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce has declared.

Stuart Patrick, in an exclusive interview with The Herald, said of the statement on aviation strategy published by Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland in July: “The aviation statement puts itself out there as airport-neutral when it comes to deciding how route development funds are used [in] attracting new routes. It is hard to see how that is neutral when every single route that is listed in the aviation strategy has gone to Edinburgh Airport.

“It does not feel airport-neutral. It clearly isn’t [regional] development neutral.”

Flagging the importance of regional development considerations and bringing jobs to deprived communities, he asked: “Even if it is airport-neutral, should it be?”

Mr Patrick flagged as a primary concern of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce the lack of a direct link between Glasgow Airport and North America.

Noting Glasgow’s rise from 51st to 37th position in the latest Global Financial Centres Index, published in September by Z/Yen Partners in collaboration with the China Development Institute, Mr Patrick said: “What worries us is obviously the big financial companies, the Barclays, the JP Morgans, the Morgan Stanleys, have been growing quite quickly in Glasgow.

“At the moment, we don’t have a direct flight to the east coast of America from Glasgow.”

Referring to the chief executive of Glasgow Airport owner AGS Airports, Andy Cliffe, Mr Patrick said: “I know Andy Cliffe is very strong on doing the pitches to get the routes in.

“Clearly North America is on his list.”

In its “aviation statement and key priorities” document, Transport Scotland highlights its role in leading on work in partnership with VisitScotland and Scottish Development International to provide route development support to airlines. This can entail, it notes, “cooperative marketing packages, market intelligence and data on the potential of the Scottish market”.

Transport Scotland says: “In 2023 we supported the launch of new routes to Atlanta with Delta Air Lines, and Calgary with WestJet. Further developments in 2024 have seen JetBlue serve Scotland for the first time with their service to New York JFK, and WestJet resuming their services to Toronto and Halifax.”

These routes are all from Edinburgh Airport.

Transport Scotland emphasises in the statement: “Our work is carried out strictly on an ‘airport-neutral’ basis, which ensures that we do not act in a way that interferes in competition. The decision on where an airline flies to in Scotland rests entirely with the airline and we do not seek to influence that process.”

Mr Patrick declared: “Could the Scottish Government either support one or two flights to North America from Glasgow or stop doing route development funding altogether?”

He issued a warning on the economic implications of the pattern of route wins for Scotland’s two largest airports, noting “some kind of balance” was not something that was taken into account by national policies.

Mr Patrick declared: “It is a real risk for the long-term balance of inward investment and employment and growth, and it is just not considered in the aviation statement.”

On Glasgow Airport’s recovery overall from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the Glasgow Chamber chief said: “The passenger numbers have been recovering fairly well.”

However, he highlighted “the gap between Edinburgh and Glasgow”, and declared: “Our biggest concern is North America. It is interesting the data was put out there that daily there are 600 journeys going out of Glasgow to North America via alternative destinations.”

Referring to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports, Mr Patrick said: “I appreciate there is an argument in investing behind both.”

However, he also emphasised the west of Scotland had had to fight to reverse population decline for two or three decades amid the loss of heavy industry.

He added: “We successfully did it. We have seen population growth in the last 20 years.”

Mr Patrick declared “the last thing we need” is anything that makes it more difficult to achieve population growth, flagging the danger of “lots” of investment going elsewhere because of a lack of flight connectivity.

AGS Airports is being acquired by one of Canada’s largest pension investors.

Acquirer AviAlliance, the wholly owned airports platform of the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments), announced its purchase of AGS Airports, which also owns Aberdeen and Southampton airports, from Ferrovial of Spain and Macquarie of Australia in November.

Referring to the chief executive of Glasgow Airport owner AGS Airports, Andy Cliffe, Mr Patrick said: “I know Andy Cliffe is very strong on doing the pitches to get the routes in.

Iain wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2024 10:16 am https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/248 ... e-flagged/

The Scottish Government should “either support one or two flights to North America from Glasgow or stop doing route development funding altogether”, the chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce has declared.

Stuart Patrick, in an exclusive interview with The Herald, said of the statement on aviation strategy published by Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland in July: “The aviation statement puts itself out there as airport-neutral when it comes to deciding how route development funds are used [in] attracting new routes. It is hard to see how that is neutral when every single route that is listed in the aviation strategy has gone to Edinburgh Airport.

“It does not feel airport-neutral. It clearly isn’t [regional] development neutral.”

Flagging the importance of regional development considerations and bringing jobs to deprived communities, he asked: “Even if it is airport-neutral, should it be?”

Mr Patrick flagged as a primary concern of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce the lack of a direct link between Glasgow Airport and North America.

Noting Glasgow’s rise from 51st to 37th position in the latest Global Financial Centres Index, published in September by Z/Yen Partners in collaboration with the China Development Institute, Mr Patrick said: “What worries us is obviously the big financial companies, the Barclays, the JP Morgans, the Morgan Stanleys, have been growing quite quickly in Glasgow.

“At the moment, we don’t have a direct flight to the east coast of America from Glasgow.”

Referring to the chief executive of Glasgow Airport owner AGS Airports, Andy Cliffe, Mr Patrick said: “I know Andy Cliffe is very strong on doing the pitches to get the routes in.

“Clearly North America is on his list.”

In its “aviation statement and key priorities” document, Transport Scotland highlights its role in leading on work in partnership with VisitScotland and Scottish Development International to provide route development support to airlines. This can entail, it notes, “cooperative marketing packages, market intelligence and data on the potential of the Scottish market”.

Transport Scotland says: “In 2023 we supported the launch of new routes to Atlanta with Delta Air Lines, and Calgary with WestJet. Further developments in 2024 have seen JetBlue serve Scotland for the first time with their service to New York JFK, and WestJet resuming their services to Toronto and Halifax.”

These routes are all from Edinburgh Airport.

Transport Scotland emphasises in the statement: “Our work is carried out strictly on an ‘airport-neutral’ basis, which ensures that we do not act in a way that interferes in competition. The decision on where an airline flies to in Scotland rests entirely with the airline and we do not seek to influence that process.”

Mr Patrick declared: “Could the Scottish Government either support one or two flights to North America from Glasgow or stop doing route development funding altogether?”

He issued a warning on the economic implications of the pattern of route wins for Scotland’s two largest airports, noting “some kind of balance” was not something that was taken into account by national policies.

Mr Patrick declared: “It is a real risk for the long-term balance of inward investment and employment and growth, and it is just not considered in the aviation statement.”

On Glasgow Airport’s recovery overall from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the Glasgow Chamber chief said: “The passenger numbers have been recovering fairly well.”

However, he highlighted “the gap between Edinburgh and Glasgow”, and declared: “Our biggest concern is North America. It is interesting the data was put out there that daily there are 600 journeys going out of Glasgow to North America via alternative destinations.”

Referring to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports, Mr Patrick said: “I appreciate there is an argument in investing behind both.”

However, he also emphasised the west of Scotland had had to fight to reverse population decline for two or three decades amid the loss of heavy industry.

He added: “We successfully did it. We have seen population growth in the last 20 years.”

Mr Patrick declared “the last thing we need” is anything that makes it more difficult to achieve population growth, flagging the danger of “lots” of investment going elsewhere because of a lack of flight connectivity.

AGS Airports is being acquired by one of Canada’s largest pension investors.

Acquirer AviAlliance, the wholly owned airports platform of the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments), announced its purchase of AGS Airports, which also owns Aberdeen and Southampton airports, from Ferrovial of Spain and Macquarie of Australia in November.

Mr Patrick declared: “Could the Scottish Government either support one or two flights to North America from Glasgow or stop doing route development funding altogether?”

Planeenthusiast wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2024 10:55 am
Classic “blame someone else” for their own failings. Deflection max.

Iain wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2024 1:37 pm

Planeenthusiast wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2024 10:55 am
Classic “blame someone else” for their own failings. Deflection max.

AGS certainly have a track record in passing the buck (although arguably they have dialled it down a bit since Cliffe took over), but this is Stuart Patrick and I'm not sure why he feels he has to protect AGS.

There seems to be a reluctance from people in power and influence to criticise AGS.

Clive wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2024 1:41 pm

Iain wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2024 1:37 pm

Planeenthusiast wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2024 10:55 am
Classic “blame someone else” for their own failings. Deflection max.

AGS certainly have a track record in passing the buck (although arguably they have dialled it down a bit since Cliffe took over), but this is Stuart Patrick and I'm not sure why he feels he has to protect AGS.

There seems to be a reluctance from people in power and influence to criticise AGS.

Maybe they know it’s not actually AGS’s fault.

Iain wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2024 3:20 pm

Clive wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2024 1:41 pm

Iain wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2024 1:37 pm

AGS certainly have a track record in passing the buck (although arguably they have dialled it down a bit since Cliffe took over), but this is Stuart Patrick and I'm not sure why he feels he has to protect AGS.

There seems to be a reluctance from people in power and influence to criticise AGS.

Maybe they know it’s not actually AGS’s fault.

So he's correct that it's the Scottish Government's fault for not giving GLA enough subsidy?

TonyM90 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2024 6:56 pm I am half expecting that like Norwegian Breeze go East when they first come into the UK flying from regional airports in and around BOS and NYC.

Until the PIK terminal closes and the infrastructure to and from the airport improves GLA is stuck in purgatory. When that happens we will be back in the game but its probably 5-10 years off minimum, if ever honestly. ScotGov should not be handing out free money for routes but they should have an involvement in supporting major industry to succeed. That means commercial aviation in the WOS should not be impeded by propped up operations that can't be sustained at secondary airports and that also means investing in public transit infrastructure at one airport and not fobbing off the other. They have skewed the market even if its not as obvious as financially supporting individual routes.