Closing Maastricht Aachen Airport (MAA) will cost the province at least EUR 326.5 million and not EUR 150 million as indicated in a draft report on the costs and benefits of the airport.
That is the view of the three runway-dependent maintenance companies at the airport Samco, Maas and GAM. They have had the costs calculated for a possible damage claim should the Limburg Parliament decide to close MAA in June.
Relocation and remediation costs
According to those calculations, closing costs the province 150.5 million in moving costs of the three companies. In addition, the remediation of the airport site would cost a minimum of 176 million and a maximum of 440 million.
beermat
The concept is based on approximately 52 million in removal costs and 46 to 91 million in remediation costs. The companies say that inquiries from the researchers revealed that this estimate was made ‘on the back of a beer mat’. They therefore call it astonishing and incomprehensible that a far-reaching conclusion about the closure variant has been drawn on the basis of this calculation.
Also read: Researchers conclude: closure is the best option for MAA
Closing twice as expensive
The concept of the social cost-benefit analysis (SCBA) concludes that closing MAA for Limburg is the best scenario. The maintenance companies further argue that the necessary renovation of the runway will cost 30 million and not 70 million as stated in the concept.
They believe that including the maintenance of large real estate and the relocation of a parking space has been wrongly included as a necessary investment. Moreover, this is offset by income from exploitation, the companies say. Their conclusion is therefore that closing is twice as expensive and keeping it open can be half the price.
Other revenue model
Samco, Maas and GAM do call it necessary for the airport to have a different revenue model. No longer bulk cargo with obsolete aircraft and passenger flights from low-cost airlines, plus free parking.
Choose transition
They argue in favor of focusing on a transition to a high-quality airport with benefits for Limburg as the criterion. In practice that would mean: a mix of silent freight, profitable passengers, maintenance, small aviation, sustainability and pilot projects with electric flying.
Such an approach gives confidence for the next thirty years and attracts new entrepreneurs, according to the maintenance companies. Their motto is therefore: forget the old model and opt for transition.
Also read: Maintenance companies MAA worried: ‘Great uncertainty’
First proposal
The province currently both owns and operates MAA. Discussions are currently underway with Schiphol about a form of participation in MAA. The provincial government will present a first proposal on the future of the airport on Tuesday. No choice is made yet, but the pros and cons of the various scenarios are listed. This will be discussed in a Parliamentary Committee on 24 March.
A final proposal from the provincial government will come on April 19.