Explanation main report L.E.K. Consulting: ‘Twente Airport Demand analysis and evaluation’

We believe it is important to provide an explanation of the study question and outcomes for the interpretation of the report’s conclusions.

At the time, the question of how the grounds of the former Twenthe airbase could best be developed was investigated; one of the options studied was an airport in several variants. Following a working visit to Airport Bristol UK, the question for LEK was whether a passenger-driven airport based on this example is possible in Twente. Airport Bristol is a passenger-driven airport located in a ‘green’ environment. It was therefore an interesting example of a development envisaging both nature and economic development in the form of an airport.

In September 2008, the LEK study was explained in depth both in “Preferred variants (floor plans for the area development of Twente Airport and environs)” and in the associated memorandum of response concerning the area development of Twente Airport and environs, Annex 3. On the basis of its study, LEK comes to the conclusion that an (exclusively) passenger-oriented airport is not feasible given the current profitability requirements in the private market. With a more moderate profitability requirement, an airport oriented primarily towards the commercial sector (regional business jets) provides opportunities for economically viable operations if a figure of 1.2 million passengers is achieved in 2020.

For this reason, in the further development VTM has studied whether the area development around the airport is economically viable in combination with the right functions (such as leisure, freight and maintenance). This study was performed by the Del Canho & Engelfriet agency, which has produced a review of all previous studies. This agency has made a number of comments to all these studies. With regard to the LEK study (December 2008), it came to the following conclusions:

This further development was based on the explicit choice in favour of a multi-functional airport plan, based on the recommendation of Del Canho & Engelfriet. On the basis of various studies, including the LEK report, the agency concludes that a multi-functional airport with a broader focus than passengers alone is possible under certain circumstances. The conditions specified include a pragmatic development strategy, a not too great dependency on a single player and an enterprising operator. These conditions will be taken into account in the selection of the operator.

View the pdf