Speaking during a parliamentary debate at Westminster Hall, Fylde MP Mark Menzies said it was targeting electric and hydrogen powered aircraft, innovation through new low-carbon fuels, and electric charging and hydrogen filling infrastructure in its redevelopment plans.
He said, “Nobody is expecting major airlines flying holidaymakers to the Costas to return overnight. But there are opportunities to explore historic and important connections which not only have big benefits for Blackpool but to improve transport links between regions of the UK.”
The plans dovetail with the aspirations of the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, which is pursuing new energy opportunities.
The UK is a leader in offshore wind and there is potential for tidal energy generation from Morecambe Bay. Both nuclear and offshore wind generation have capacity to create further opportunities for the region.
Steve Peters was appointed Managing Director at Blackpool Airport in May.
Cllr Gillian Campbell, Chair of BOAL (Blackpool Airport Operations Ltd) said, “After successfully transferring the CAA licences back under the control of the airport in November last year, the airport has been eagerly anticipating Steve’s appointment as the final piece of the puzzle to kick start the airport’s new independent journey.”
Around 50 miles away, Manchester Airport has said it is on track to be the ‘first’ in the UK with a direct hydrogen fuel pipeline having revealed a partnership with the UK Government-back industrial decarbonisation project, HyNet.
Under a freshly inked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Progressive Energy and Cadent, founding partners of HyNet, the partners aim to deliver hydrogen to the aviation sector at the earliest opportunity, through the connection of Manchester Airport to a pipeline being developed by HyNet.
Read more: New agreement could see Manchester become ‘first’ UK airport with direct hydrogen fuel pipeline