Coventry Airport History
Founded in 1936, Coventry airport was initially used as a support, testing and manufacture facility for Armstrong Whitworth, and the company's flying club is still based at the airport.
After military use during WWII, the airport was taken over by Coventry City Council in the 1950's and a tarmac runway was laid shortly after.
Coventry airport has operated passenger flights successfully ever since then, however it was in the early 1990's with the arrival of low cost airline Ryanair that the airport began to re-establish itself as an regional airport with scheduled passenger flights.
Coventry Airport has seen its most turbulent years recently, however, as planning rows have clouded the future of the site. In accordance with a local planning agreement with Warwick District Council, the airport demolished its old terminal in order to move passenger operations away from Baginton Village.
However planning permission for this replacement terminal has not been forthcoming and so the airport is having to utilise a temporary passenger facility. This caused an outcry, with claims that it breaches planning regulations leading to a public enquiry (which opened on 01.02.05).
This long-running and bitter battle between Coventry Airport, backed by Coventry City Council, and planners at Warwick District Council is set to continue after this inquiry, as rejected plans for a permanent passenger terminal and fresh plans for a terminal 3 times that of the original application will be examined separately.
In 2004 the airport, still owned by Coventry City Council, was leased to travel giant TUI (better known in the UK as Thompson). This resulted in a massive expansion at the airport, with almost 400,000 passengers flying through the airport in that year.
It's continued expansion depends on agreement on planning issues, which may not be resolved in 2005. See our Coventry Airport News section for the latest developments.
