Airport Guide
Liverpool Airport
For years in the shadow of northern rival Manchester Airport, Liverpool's own flight hub has grown substantially over the past few years.
In fact, since 1998, it has officially been one the fastest-expanding airports in the whole of Europe, thanks mainly to several budget airlines using it to offer a gateway out of the north-west of England to continental Europe and beyond.
Founded as Speke Airport, the people of Liverpool first got their own flight terminal in the 1930s, with one weekly service down to Croydon complementing regular air crossings to Ireland.
After being taken over by the Royal Air Force for the duration of the Second World War, a period which saw it play a crucial role in the Battle of Britain, it was then brought under the control of the Merseyside County Council, complete with a new 7,500-foot runway.
The late 1980s saw the original airport buildings replaced with modern alternatives, though it was only really in 2000 when new owners Peel Holdings invested £42.5 million in a new passenger terminal that Liverpool came to resemble how it is today.
In 2002, the airport was renamed the Liverpool John Lennon Airport, in honour of one of the city's most famous sons, with his lyrics "Above us only sky" painted on the terminal roof.
The airport is easily accessible from the rest of the north-west thanks to its proximity to the M53, M56, M57 and M62 motorways, with a specially-constructed road now making up the final stretch to the terminal. Despite this, parking facilities have so far failed to keep pace with rising passenger numbers, leaving many passengers arriving by car to park some distance from the airport and then travel in, often at some expense. It is worth noting, however, that work is currently being carried out to improve this situation.
For those relying on or opting for public transport, there are regular shuttle buses between the airport and the city centre and Liverpool South Parkway railway station. Buses run 24-hours a day, meaning that passengers on early-morning flights need not spend the night at the airport.
Liverpool Airport has grown on the back of cheap flights and is one of the jumping-off points of choice for holidaymakers wanting to get away on the cheap. Ryanair flies out of Liverpool to dozens of destinations across the UK and Europe, including Alicante, Grenoble, Palma de Mallorca, Seville, Reus and Wroclaw. Budget rival easyJet offers almost as many services, with a focus on the sunshine break hotspots of the south of Spain. A refreshing alternative is the low-cost Wizz Air, which offers cheap flights to Gdansk, Katowice and Warsaw.
During the summer months, Liverpool also serves as the taking-off point for a number of charter airlines, including Thomsonfly, Thomas Cook and First Choice.
In fact, since 1998, it has officially been one the fastest-expanding airports in the whole of Europe, thanks mainly to several budget airlines using it to offer a gateway out of the north-west of England to continental Europe and beyond.
History of Liverpool Airport
Founded as Speke Airport, the people of Liverpool first got their own flight terminal in the 1930s, with one weekly service down to Croydon complementing regular air crossings to Ireland.
After being taken over by the Royal Air Force for the duration of the Second World War, a period which saw it play a crucial role in the Battle of Britain, it was then brought under the control of the Merseyside County Council, complete with a new 7,500-foot runway.
The late 1980s saw the original airport buildings replaced with modern alternatives, though it was only really in 2000 when new owners Peel Holdings invested £42.5 million in a new passenger terminal that Liverpool came to resemble how it is today.
In 2002, the airport was renamed the Liverpool John Lennon Airport, in honour of one of the city's most famous sons, with his lyrics "Above us only sky" painted on the terminal roof.
Travelling to Liverpool Airport
The airport is easily accessible from the rest of the north-west thanks to its proximity to the M53, M56, M57 and M62 motorways, with a specially-constructed road now making up the final stretch to the terminal. Despite this, parking facilities have so far failed to keep pace with rising passenger numbers, leaving many passengers arriving by car to park some distance from the airport and then travel in, often at some expense. It is worth noting, however, that work is currently being carried out to improve this situation.
For those relying on or opting for public transport, there are regular shuttle buses between the airport and the city centre and Liverpool South Parkway railway station. Buses run 24-hours a day, meaning that passengers on early-morning flights need not spend the night at the airport.
Airlines flying from Liverpool Airport
Liverpool Airport has grown on the back of cheap flights and is one of the jumping-off points of choice for holidaymakers wanting to get away on the cheap. Ryanair flies out of Liverpool to dozens of destinations across the UK and Europe, including Alicante, Grenoble, Palma de Mallorca, Seville, Reus and Wroclaw. Budget rival easyJet offers almost as many services, with a focus on the sunshine break hotspots of the south of Spain. A refreshing alternative is the low-cost Wizz Air, which offers cheap flights to Gdansk, Katowice and Warsaw.
During the summer months, Liverpool also serves as the taking-off point for a number of charter airlines, including Thomsonfly, Thomas Cook and First Choice.