Airport Guide

History of Humberside International Airport

As with most other airports located close to the English coast, Humberside started life as a Royal Air Force base at the start of the Second World War. Opened in 1941, the field served as an operational base for the 166 Squadron, which consisted of the now-iconic Avro Lancaster bombers, made famous for its role in the 'Dam Busters' bombing raid.

With the end of hostilities in 1945, the site was promptly abandoned, only reopening in 1974, when the local council established it as Kirmington Airport, later changed due to the re-naming of local government authorities.

Once the runway airport was lengthened in 1992, larger aircraft could operate out of Humberside, allowing it to take advantage of the soaring demand for package holidays overseas among passengers living in the north-east of England.

Travelling to Humberside International Airport

Situated in North Lincolnshire, Humberside Airport is just ten miles from the busy seaside town of Grimsby and around 15 miles from both Kingston upon Hull and Scunthorpe. The latter two can be easily reached by car along the A18. Excellent road links are available to major cities, including Newcastle and Birmingham.

Regular train services run to these towns, though the nearest link is the small station of Barnetby, on the Doncaster mainline and just three miles from the terminal front doors, from where passengers can take a taxi.
Another public transport option is the speedy X1 'Humber Flyer' bus, which links the airport with Hull and Grimsby for an affordable price.

Airlines Flying from Humberside International Airport

With just two scheduled destinations – Eastern Airways to Aberdeen and KLM Cityhopper to Amsterdam – Humberside is one of the least busy international airports in the UK.

That said, over the summer months, a significant number of charter airlines offer flights to holidaymakers wanting to head off to the sun without having to travel to the East Midlands Airport first.

For example, Air Europa flies to Las Palmas, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife South, First Choice operates routes to Gran Canaria, Mahon and Tenerife South and Eurocypria offeres services to Heraklion and Larnaca. Also served by the airport are Arrecife, Dalaman and Bourgas, by LTE International Airways, Pegasus, Airlines and BH Air respectively.

Supplementing these are numerous private flights, including services to the North Sea oil fields.