Wiggins is a property group turned airport operator.

They currently own land at and or will operate 8 airports(planestations).

These are

Manston in Kent
Lahr in Germany
Parchim in Germany
Cuneo in Italy
Odense in Denmark
Smyrna in the US
Pilsen in the Czech Republic
Ajman airport

The main initial focus is on cargo operation manston is currently the 7th biggest airport in terms of cargo weight in England. cuneo is the only Airport that currently has scheduled services from 3 febuary there will be 3 flights a day to Rome and 1 flight a day to Strasbourg in the summer there will be charter flights.

As well as the airports Manston still has a valuable non airport related land bank which it plans on selling/developping and using the money generated to invest in the planestations.

Investors Chronicle article on Wiggins www
rgd aj

not bad news of wiggins this time ? i hope that there new approach with planestation will put them in a good position now the goverment have given more feedom with air travel at local airports?

Wiggins
Investors Chronicle

Wiggins immediate financial future is secure. Management is raising 46.3m, after expenses, in place of an open offer. As long as this is approved by shareholders, it will mean the group can pay back 16.1m of crippling mezzanine debt, on which it has been paying interest at 48 per cent a year – and 17.65m of other loans. Annual cash burn has fallen from 10m to 4m as air travel volumes have improved, and chief executive Oliver Iny says it will drop to 2.5m once the debts are paid off.

Cash inflows should also come from property sales. A big disposal in Liverpool should be under way by the end of 2004, another one - in Oxfordshire – could be five to six years off.

The proceeds from other property sales – mainly sites around its airports – will be ploughed into Wiggins Plane Station concept. The group owns or has leases on seven tertiary airports internationally, and wants to make these into a network, allowing airlines to negotiate single sets of landing charges and handling fees. Wiggins intends to change its name to PlaneStation

Merry Christmas all
G12

..... and Merry Christmas and good health to all for New Year.
rgds aj

Morning all

This help things tick a long a little better!

Wiggins, the fully listed airport and property company, is to continue to expand its global network of regional airports, having successfully raised 46.35m, net of expenses, of new funds from major City institutions.

At its AGM held earlier today, and later EGM, all resolutions were passed, including those relating to the raising of new funds and the change of name to PlaneStation Group Plc.

The injection of new funds will significantly reduce the Group's debt burden and give the Board the flexibility to roll out more regional airports and improve the existing network. The Group will also provide additional financing for its expansion through the development and sale of certain property assets including prime sites in East London, Liverpool and Burford, Oxon.

Since acquiring Manston in Kent six years ago, the Group has expanded its PlaneStation network to include six strategic airports around Europe and Melbourne International Airport in Florida, USA. A recent government White Paper stressed the importance of growing smaller airports in the UK rather than expanding already over congested larger airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick.

The Board has been strengthened with the appointment of Geoffrey Ambrose as a non-executive director. Mr Ambrose has significant experience in airport management having previously held senior positions in BAA plc, including General Manager of Stansted Airport and Planning Director, Heathrow Airport.

Wiggins Chief Executive Oliver Iny said: "We are proud that some of the best known institutions in the City have backed the new strategy and decided to invest in the future growth of your Group."



Copyright 2004 Wiggins

Lets hope they start to move soon!!

Manston To Fly As Cliffe Is Grounded
Kent Business

Airport joy as council spells out challenging 2004 agenda

London Manston airport has won renewed backing following the government’s decision to ground controversial plans for an airport on Cliffe marches.

Kent County Council welcomed the decision by Alistair Darling, the Transport Secretary, to rule out the precious wildlife site.

Instead, he opted for runway expansion at Stansted and Heathrow, Birmingham and Edinburgh, with the possibility of an extra runway at Gatwick after 2019. While some business people and planners thought an airport at Cliffe would have given a tremendous boost to jobs and commerce, KCC insisted it would have “over balanced” the economy.

Cllr Alex King, Cabinet member for regeneration, said increased airport capacity was essential to Kent’s growth, but Cliffe was never the right place for it.

Manston has a runway capable of taking intercontinental passenger flights – it is in talks about scheduled charter flights to Florida – and cargo traffic rose 29 per cent last year.

“It gives us a real opportunity to develop Manston,” said Cllr King. “Blight is now off. I would like to see Manston realise its full potential.”

A spokesman for Wiggins Group, the owners of Manston, said the Aviation White Paper offered it “a major opportunity for growth. It recognises that there is considerable scope for us to meet demand for air services and goes on to braket London Manston with major airports such as London City and Southampton.”

Mr Darling’s decision was greeted with tears of relief among opponents of a scheme that would have seriously damaged Dickins Country and a unique site for birds.

It was a huge victory for the people of the Hoo Peninsula and beyond who campaigned against the proposal.

Campaigner George Crozer said: “The decision is a huge relief. I’m over the moon the fight is over.”

Meanwhile Cllr King outlined a number of other challenges Kent must over come to take advantage of “an open window of opportunity” running up to 2007 – when the Channel Tunnel Rail Link is fully open – and beyond:

Everyone has to pull together.
All opportunities to promote Kent’s interests should be seized.
The Government must be persuaded to invest up to 10bn in infrastructure to go hand in hand with the housing development.
Kent should offer better communications such as universal broadband.
The country’s position as a gate way to and from Europe has to be emphasised.
Education “from primary school upwards” must achieve a step change in skills.
Entrepreneurship has to be encouraged.
The Government should reduce the burden of regulation and reverse the trend towards “stealth taxes” and taxes on businesses.