Liverpool Airport - Facts, Figures and History

Liverpool Airport Facts

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is one of the oldest operational airports in the country. It officially opened in 1933.
Liverpool is currently the UK's fastest growing regional airport:
- 1999 throughput = 1.3 million passengers (+49%)
- 2000 throughput = 1.99 million passengers (+53%)
Liverpool is seventh in the league of UK airports in terms of freight throughput.
Liverpool was the UK's first regional airport to move from local authority control to that of the private sector in 1990. This followed government recommendation in the 1986 airports act.
Liverpool's runway is 7,500 ft long (2286 metres) and capable of handling the worlds largest aircraft, e.g.:
- Concorde has been a regular visitor to Liverpool on charter services.
- The Antonov-124 (the worlds largest commercial aircraft) takes Christmas gifts to less fortunate children each year, as part of Operation Christmas Child.
- Boeing 747's use Liverpool on ad-hoc charters and also when diverted from other airports.
The country's first ever inclusive tour (charter) flight operated from Liverpool in 1952.
The UK's first ever charter operations of Concorde from a regional airport departed from Liverpool in 1979.
Liverpool has an excellent all year round weather record - the envy of many other airports, due to it's geographical location.
Liverpool is a 24 hour airport, operating 7 days a week, 365 days a year (except for a few hours on Christmas Day!).
The majority of air fares are cheaper from Liverpool than other airports in the region - particularly with easyJet's growing range of scheduled services and in general, lower holiday flight supplements.

Liverpool Aiport's History

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is one of the UK's oldest operational airports with the first scheduled flights commencing in 1930 and an 'official opening' ceremony some three years later on 1st July 1933.

Situated some seven miles South East of Liverpool city centre and adjacent to the River Mersey, the airport location was chosen for three reasons which are still important benefits for the airport today.

- Close proximity to the city of Liverpool and surrounding community.
- Ideal geography of the site for aircraft movements.
- Excellent year round weather record (fog free).

Today Liverpool John Lennon Airport is a wholly owned subsidiary of Peel Holdings p.l.c., the North West based property company. Peel acquired a 76% majority shareholding in 1997 from British Aerospace with the remaining shares held by the five Merseyside local authorities. On 9 May 2001 Peel Airports (Liverpool) Limited acquired the remaining 24% shareholding.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport has a stylish, state of the art terminal. The new terminal has a full length glass frontage, and the new building has trebled the size of the existing terminal initially accommodating 3 million passengers a year. Liverpool boasts a spacious check-in hall which holds 36 check-in desks. The cost of the new terminal alone reached over Ł30 million. There is now also a new control tower, over the River Mersey, dwarfing the previous terminal.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport takes account of economic, social and environmental effects and is committed to sustainable growth whilst seeking to minimise and mitigate environmental effects. To this end Liverpool airport are investing Ł200,000 in a noise monitoring and track keeping system that will enable the airport to monitor the noise level of each aircraft as it lands and takes off and also record path the aircraft has taken on arrival or departure.

Contacting the airport about aircraft noise

If you wish to contact Liverpool John Lennon Airport about aircraft noise you can do this by telephone, post or email.

Telephone - Dial the airport general telephone number 0151 288 4000 and select option 6, and follow the instructions. Or dial direct and leave a message on the answer phone.

Post - please write to:
The Environmental Manager
Liverpool Airport plc
South Terminal
Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Liverpool L24 1YD with details of your enquiry.

Access to Liverpool John Lennon Airport by road

Travelling from the North / North-East
M6 southbound to junction 21A with M62. Follow M62 West to junction 6 onto the A5300 to the A561 and follow signs to the Airport, which is situated off Speke Hall Avenue.

Travelling from the South / East
M6 northbound to junction 20 with M56. Follow M56 to junction 12 onto A557/A562 dual carriageway via Runcorn Bridge to merge with A561. Follow signs to the Airport, situated off Speke Hall Avenue.

Travelling from the Wirral / North Wales
Passengers travelling from Wirral may find it more convenient at peak times to use the M53 and then the M56 (as instructions from the South / East) rather than a route through the City Centre of Liverpool via the Mersey Tunnels. Passengers travelling from North Wales should join the A55 to connect with the M56 eastbound, and then follow instructions as from the East.