Liverpool John Lennon Airport Information

About Liverpool Airport Facilities

At Liverpool John Lennon Airport there are a wide variety of facilities to accommodate the needs and requirements of travellers. Of particular interest to the business traveller would be the recent installation of the latest WiFi technology throughout the terminal building. In addition there are conference and meeting facilities which include the Cavern Suite, which is located within the main terminal building and can accommodate up to 30 delegates (Board Style) or 80 delegates (Theatre Style). Also it is possible to book the Halewood International Executive Lounge, which offers discerning business and leisure passengers a quiet refuge from the hustle and bustle of the main Departure Lounge.

If travelling to the airport by train, nearby Hunts Cross, Garston and Runcorn stations all have frequent services to Liverpool city station. Hunts Cross is the nearest station to the airport and Airlink bus services operate between all three stations and the airport itself. From Liverpool, onward services to Birmingham, Manchester, London Euston and intermediate stations can be caught.

If travelling by coach National express provide regular services to Liverpool city centre and destinations include London, Manchester, Leeds, Chester and Newcastle. In addition, Mersey/Travel operates regular services between Liverpool airport and the city centre.

The History of Liverpool Airport

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is one of the oldest international airports in the UK. Its original name was Speke Airport and it commenced scheduled flights in 1930 but was officially opened in the summer of 1933. During the thirties, as the high demand for Irish Sea crossings caused air traffic from Liverpool to boom, a passenger terminal and aircraft storage facilities were constructed.

During the Second World War, the airport was used as a testing facility for military aircraft, which were built in nearby Rootes and Lockhead and was then known as RAF Speke. Speke was witness to what is considered to be the fastest air combat "kill" in the Battle of Britain and possibly of all time. Squadron Leader Denys Gillam took off in his Hawker Hurricane from Speke to be confronted by a Junkers II passing across him. As his undercarriage was still retracting his shot the enemy fighter down and the moment was caught in a painting by Robert Taylor called "Fastest Victory". The airport was held for military use until 1961 when it was handed over to the local authority.

In 1966 a new runway was opened on a new site to the south of the existing airfield and this enabled the airport to open for business on a twenty four hour basis. In the mid 1970s control of the airport was transferred to Merseyside County Council from Liverpool Corporation and then ten years later to the five Merseyside councils following the abolition of the Merseyside County Council.

In 1986 a new passenger terminal was constructed on the site, adjacent to the runway on the southern airfield site and shortly after, the original 1930s building was closed.

The original terminal building, which was famously seen on old television footage with its terraces paced with Beatles' fans, was abandoned for over a decade after it was closed but it has recently been renovated and expanded to become the Marriott Liverpool South Hotel, preserving its Grade II listed art deco style.

> In 1990 the airport changed hands again with British Aerospace taking a 76% shareholding in the new company and after this, £4 million was put into the airport to further develop the site and improve passenger facilities.

In 1997 Peel Holdings plc bought 76% of the airport shares, with the other 24% being acquired in 2001, making the airport at wholly-owned subsidiary of Peel Holdings Ltd. Whilst this was going on work on a £42.5 million modern passenger terminal began, tripling the size and increasing capacity and this development was completed in 2002.

It was in 2002 that the decision was made to rename the airport in honour of the late John Lennon, a founding member of Liverpudlian band The Beatles. A 7ft bronze statue of the local icon proudly stands overlooking the check-in hall and on the roof is painted the airport's motto, a line from Lennon's song "Imagine". "Above us, only sky."