1. Introduction

1.1. Dundee Airport (IATA: DND, ICAO: EGPN) is a publicly licensed airfield open for scheduled, private and charter operators. It consists of a single east - west runway, aligned 09-27 on land reclaimed from the Firth of Tay, and is positioned less than 2 miles from Dundee city centre and with views over the nearby Tay Rail Bridge.

1.2. The airport occupies a gateway position on the A85 Riverside Drive, which links the A90 Kingsway (the road artery linking the city with Aberdeen to the north and Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow to the west and south), to the City centre and Dundee railway station (about 5 minutes drive from the airport). The station offers services on the East Coast line to Edinburgh but also to the cross-country line serving Glasgow, Aberdeen and further afield.

1.3. As it enters its 50^th year of operations, the original grass strip airfield having opened back in 1963, the airport is facing some of the most difficult challenges in its history, with commercial services being lost, passenger numbers in decline and a growing operational subsidy.

Aims and Objectives of the Study

1.4. It was with this in mind, and following discussions with key local stakeholders, that Transport Scotland determined to commission a review of Dundee Airport's future prospects that would include an examination of potential opportunities for development in the short, medium and longer-term scenarios. Specifically, the brief from Transport Scotland set out the following scope of work for the study:

1.4.1. Current operations infrastructure

To provide a comprehensive account of the current role of the airport, its scheduled air services, the other activities that are linked to it and infrastructure that supports it.

1.4.2. Stakeholder Consultation/Engagement

To undertake structured interviews to consider the views and requirements of local stakeholders regarding the current and future role of Dundee City Airport with primary interest being focused on the views of the business community, in particular representatives of companies operating in some of key sectors that define the Dundee economy, and the tourism and University sectors.

1.4.3. Consideration of other Regional Airport Initiatives/Models

To consider the role of comparable regional airports, within and outside the UK, to identify initiatives and models that could provide potential ways forward for the future management, marketing and development of Dundee City Airport.

1.4.4. Development, Scoping and Sifting of Options

To identify development opportunities (including route development opportunities) that will contribute and inform a future vision for Dundee City Airport and then subject a range of short, medium and longer term options based on these to high level appraisal. This should be based on a methodology that fits within the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance Framework (i.e. it should not be limited to financial impacts but also consider other issues such as environmental aspects and the effects on local transport networks) and supported with robust evidence.

Final Report

1.5. This Final Report presents the findings of that review. It is comprised of the following sections following this Introduction, structured as closely as possible around the aforementioned Aims and Objectives:

1.5.1. Current operations/infrastructure

Historical Development of the Airport
Airport Infrastructure
Airport Operations and Management
Market Assessment

1.5.2. Stakeholder Consultation/Engagement

Current Economic and Policy Context
Stakeholder Interviews

1.5.3. Consideration of other Regional Airport Initiatives/Models

Benchmarking Comparisons

1.5.4. Development, Scoping and Sifting of Options

Challenges Facing the Airport in 2013 and Beyond
Potential Scenarios and Options
Next Steps

1.6. Following a review of the draft Final Report by Transport Scotland, it was agreed, that this Final Report should focus on identifying a range measures to improve the airport's short and medium term prospects, rather than also seek to set out options for long term growth. Although we did examine a number of such options during our work, we concur with Transport Scotland, that until a stable business outlook capable of making much more intensive use of the airport's existing infrastructure is achieved, examining a range of options for long term growth requiring substantial additional capital investment is at best speculative and at worst could distract from the immediate task in hand. That task is securing a financially sustainable airport operation delivering sustained improvements in air connectivity for the City of Dundee, Angus, North East Fife and Perth and a platform for both existing and new aviation related businesses supporting employment generation in Dundee and beyond. The analysis and recommendations reported here have that core objective in mind.

1.7. For completeness, it is worth noting that the consultants team has also prepared a confidential document setting out notes from the wide ranging structured stakeholder consultation with aviation/airport users undertaken to inform this review (and summarised in the main report). This has been supplied separately to Transport Scotland and records the views of major existing and potential users of Dundee Airport on the commercial offer from the airlines that currently (or have recently) flown from it, with particular reference to destinations served, frequency and ticket pricing and incorporating their thoughts how this might be improved moving forwards. This will be of considerable value to the agencies given the responsibility for taking forward the short and medium term initiatives spelt out in the conclusions to this report.