SO our shiny new airport could soon have a shiny new hotel to go with it.

The plans are as vague as they possibly could be at the moment, but it appears to be a natural progession for owners Manchester Airports Group to look at how it can capitalise on the airport’s predicted growth in the coming years.

The £45 million scheme to rebuild departure and arrivals halls, resurface the runway and revamp other facilities will end this summer and as the season sees more and more flights in and out of Bournemouth, the need to keep up with the aviation Joneses becomes more and more important.

The town is not without its fair share of hotel rooms, but the warmer welcome via the new arrivals hall needs to be matched by transport and accommodation facilities on the doorstep.

Whether the hotel plan is viable will doubtless depend on the commitment shown by the airlines and that’s always a challenge for a regional airport like ours.

But while the owners state that any new hotel would be built within the airport’s boundaries, don’t expect it to be within walking distance of the terminal.

The thought of travellers parking their cars for free at the hotel or dropping and picking up family and friends at the hotel without paying a fee will have MAG spluttering over their balance sheets…