Airport Guide
East Midlands Airport
Seen as a relative newcomer on the UK airports scene, East Midlands has been in operation for more than 60 years, though only recently have budget airliners overtaken freight carriers as its biggest users.
Owned by the Manchester Airports Group (MAG), East Midlands serves as a getaway to Europe for those living in a number of surrounding cites, including Derby, Leicester and Nottingham, while many passengers also make the journey from Birmingham and even London to take advantage of lower fares and smaller queues.
As with most other airports, East Midlands owes its origins to the Second World War, when it served as RAF Castle Donnington. After being decommissioned in 1946, it was reopened in the 1960s, opening for its first paying passengers in 1965.
For the first couple of decades, it was the revenues from freight traffic which allowed East Midlands to stay in operation and expand its facilities.
However, a terminal upgrade and a further runway extension in 1980 saw it become a major player in the UK aviation industry and it went on to become the first regional airport to be privatised in 1993. The money invested by the buyers, the National Express Group, allowed it to grow to long-haul services, so that when MAG acquired it in 2001, it was well-placed to capitalise on the 'no-frills' revolution.
The fact that East Midlands is currently the only unrestricted airport in the UK, with flights allowed to take-off and land at all hours, suggests that it could benefit from further expansion over the coming years, though residents of neighbouring villages are likely to try and block any such move.
Due to its proximity to both the M1 and M42 motorways, East Midlands Airport is arguably the easiest airport in the UK to travel to by car. The terminal is within 20 miles of Nottingham, Leicester and Derby, while Birmingham and London are easily accessible.
For those travelling by public transport, getting to the airport is just as easy, with a special shuttle in operation from both Derby and Loughborough train stations and special buses running 24 hours a day from Nottingham and Leicester.
Furthermore, a new railway station situated even closer to the airport is expected to be completed by the end of 2008 or start of 2009 at the latest.
Over recent years, East Midlands has become a major hub for a number of low-cost airlines. Sector leader Ryanair, for example, offers regular and cheap services to dozens of European destinations, including Alicante, Granada, Riga, Rome and Milan. Also flying out of the airport are bmibaby, which operates services to, among others, Malaga, Faro and Geneva, and easyJet.
One notable travel operator offering long-haul links out of the East Midlands include is First Choice, which flies to the Dominican Republic, Orlando and Cancun in Mexico
Owned by the Manchester Airports Group (MAG), East Midlands serves as a getaway to Europe for those living in a number of surrounding cites, including Derby, Leicester and Nottingham, while many passengers also make the journey from Birmingham and even London to take advantage of lower fares and smaller queues.
History of East Midlands Airport
As with most other airports, East Midlands owes its origins to the Second World War, when it served as RAF Castle Donnington. After being decommissioned in 1946, it was reopened in the 1960s, opening for its first paying passengers in 1965.
For the first couple of decades, it was the revenues from freight traffic which allowed East Midlands to stay in operation and expand its facilities.
However, a terminal upgrade and a further runway extension in 1980 saw it become a major player in the UK aviation industry and it went on to become the first regional airport to be privatised in 1993. The money invested by the buyers, the National Express Group, allowed it to grow to long-haul services, so that when MAG acquired it in 2001, it was well-placed to capitalise on the 'no-frills' revolution.
The fact that East Midlands is currently the only unrestricted airport in the UK, with flights allowed to take-off and land at all hours, suggests that it could benefit from further expansion over the coming years, though residents of neighbouring villages are likely to try and block any such move.
Travelling to East Midlands Airport
Due to its proximity to both the M1 and M42 motorways, East Midlands Airport is arguably the easiest airport in the UK to travel to by car. The terminal is within 20 miles of Nottingham, Leicester and Derby, while Birmingham and London are easily accessible.
For those travelling by public transport, getting to the airport is just as easy, with a special shuttle in operation from both Derby and Loughborough train stations and special buses running 24 hours a day from Nottingham and Leicester.
Furthermore, a new railway station situated even closer to the airport is expected to be completed by the end of 2008 or start of 2009 at the latest.
Major Airlines Flying out of East Midlands Airport
Over recent years, East Midlands has become a major hub for a number of low-cost airlines. Sector leader Ryanair, for example, offers regular and cheap services to dozens of European destinations, including Alicante, Granada, Riga, Rome and Milan. Also flying out of the airport are bmibaby, which operates services to, among others, Malaga, Faro and Geneva, and easyJet.
One notable travel operator offering long-haul links out of the East Midlands include is First Choice, which flies to the Dominican Republic, Orlando and Cancun in Mexico