There will be no "quick fix changes" at Shoreham Airport in the wake of its controversial change of hands, its manager has said.

John Haffenden said he expected a period of stabilisation now that Erinaceous, the property company, has all but completed a deal to take the airport on a 150-year lease.

With the announcement that councillors had voted through the multi-million pound sale the way has been paved for the expansion of the airport's services to begin.

Keith Taylor, the Brighton Green Party councillor, is one of a number of people who believe the takeover will start the expansion bid in earnest.

Erinaceous has already indicated it expects more flights to and from Shoreham, possibly to European destinations like Amsterdam and Edinburgh.

But Mr Haffenden said the ink must dry on the contract before any changes begin. He said: "I am pleased to be able to report that the transition period from our old owners the local authorities of Brighton, Hove and Worthing to the Erinaceous Group plc is under way.

"During the following weeks we expect to be doing the required work to complete the transfer and this will undoubtedly create alterations to paperwork.

"No quick fix changes are anticipated in the short term so we can expect stability to be one of the prime ways forward."

It has also been announced that the airport has already scored a major coup with Piper, the German plane manufacturer, confirming it will make its new UK base at Shoreham.

The company will move its UK spare parts arm plus new sales and demonstration aircraft to the airport.

Mr Haffenden said: "The airport has been engaged in talks with Piper-Germany for several weeks and, following negotiations with the CEO Wilfried Otto, Shoreham has been chosen against stiff competition from a number of other airports as the airport at which Piper wishes to be based."

Monday, May 8, 2006