Editing Liverpool John Lennon Airport (section)

==History==
===Imperial Airways===
Built in part of the grounds of [[Speke Hall]], Liverpool (Speke) Airport, as the airport was originally known, started scheduled flights in 1930 with a service by [[Imperial Airways]] via [[City Airport Manchester|Barton Aerodrome]] near [[Eccles, Greater Manchester|Eccles]], [[City of Salford|Salford]] and [[Castle Bromwich Aerodrome]], [[Birmingham]] to [[Croydon Airport]] near London. The airport was officially opened on 1 July 1933.<ref name="liverpoolecho.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/nostalgia/flashback-eighty-years-liverpool-airport-5693039|title=Flashback: Eighty years of our airport|first=Jade|last=Wright|date=11 August 2013|access-date=5 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109022543/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/nostalgia/flashback-eighty-years-liverpool-airport-5693039|archive-date=9 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> By the late 1930s, air traffic from Liverpool was beginning to take off with increasing demand for [[Irish Sea]] crossings, and a distinctive [[airport terminal|passenger terminal]], [[control tower]] and two large aircraft [[hangar]]s were built.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpool-airport-guide.co.uk/history.html|title=History of Liverpool Airport - Liverpool Airport Guide|website=liverpool-airport-guide.co.uk|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301180222/http://www.liverpool-airport-guide.co.uk/history.html|archive-date=1 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Second World War===
At the beginning of 1937, [[Liverpool City Council]] leased between {{convert|70|and|110|acre|abbr=off}} of their Speke Estate on a 999-year lease to the [[Air Ministry]]. The price included at all times the use of Speke Airport next to the [[shadow factory]] site. The [[London, Midland and Scottish Railway|LMS Railway]] provided a siding. Erection of the building was planned to take 30{{nbsp}}weeks and when complete it would provide employment for more than 5,000{{nbsp}}people. It was to be managed by [[Rootes Securities Ltd|Rootes Securities]] on behalf of the Air Ministry. Work started Monday 15 February 1937.<ref>Liverpool Aeroplane Factory. ''The Times'', Saturday, 13 February 1937; pg. 9; Issue 47608</ref>

During the [[Second World War]], Speke was requisitioned by the [[Royal Air Force]] and known as RAF Speke. [[Rootes Group|Rootes]] built in a "[[British shadow factories|shadow factory]]" by the airport to produce [[Bristol Blenheim]]s and 1,070 [[Handley Page Halifax]] bombers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forgottenairfields.com/united-kingdom/england/merseyside/liverpool-speke-airport-s1198.html|title=Liverpool (Speke) Airport|website=forgottenairfields.com|language=en|access-date=14 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820014212/http://www.forgottenairfields.com/united-kingdom/england/merseyside/liverpool-speke-airport-s1198.html|archive-date=20 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed Aircraft Corporation]] assembled many types of planes at the airport, including [[Lockheed Hudson|Hudsons]] and [[North American P-51 Mustang|Mustang fighters]], that had been shipped from the United States in parts to [[Port of Liverpool|Liverpool Docks]]. The airport was also home to the [[Merchant Ship Fighter Unit]].<ref name="liverpoolecho.co.uk" />

On 8 October 1940, Speke was witness to what is thought to be the fastest air-to-air combat "kilo" in the [[Battle of Britain]] and possibly of all time. [[Flight Lieutenant]] [[Denys Gillam]] took off in his [[Hawker Hurricane]] from Speke to be confronted by a [[Junkers Ju 88]] passing across him. He shot the Junkers down while his [[Landing gear|undercarriage]] was still retracting, and, along with [[Alois Vašátko]] and Josef Stehlík, all of [[No. 312 Squadron RAF|312 Squadron]], was credited with the kill. The moment has been caught in a painting by Robert Taylor called ''Fastest Victory''.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.south-lancs-aviation.bravepages.com/ju88.htm | title = Shooting down of a Ju88 by No 312 Squadron | publisher = RAF Millom Aviation & Military Museum Group | access-date = 21 January 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120630123628/http://www.south-lancs-aviation.bravepages.com/ju88.htm | archive-date = 30 June 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="ahfv">{{cite web | url = http://www.aceshighgallery.co.uk/viewer/206.html | title = Fastest Victory | publisher = aceshighgallery.co.uk | first = Robert | last = Taylor | access-date = 10 September 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081007224757/http://www.aceshighgallery.co.uk/viewer/206.html | archive-date = 7 October 2008 }}</ref>

===Civil airport===
Normal civil airline operations resumed after [[Victory in Europe Day|VE Day]] and passengers increased from 50,000 in 1945 to 75,000 in 1948, remaining ahead of [[Manchester Airport]]. Ownership by the [[Ministry of Aviation]] proved to be a drag on the airport's progress thereafter, and Manchester gained the lead from 1949, resulting in Liverpool's loss of the only [[Ground-controlled approach|ground-controlled radar approach]] unit available to [[North West England|North West]] airports, further hampering operation.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

During the post-war years, Speke Airport hosted an annual air display in aid of the [[Soldiers, Sailors, and Air Force Association]], a charity for veterans. The displays were immensely popular and attracted a huge crowd. On one such occasion on 21 May 1956, tragedy struck with the death of [[Leo Valentin|Léon Alfred Nicolas "Léo" Valentin]], billed as the Birdman, when his [[balsa wood]] wings struck the opening of the aircraft from which he was exiting and he was hurtled into an uncontrollable spin. He attempted to deploy his emergency parachute, but it became entangled and 'Roman candled', leaving Leo to fall to his death. The local newspaper headlined the story with "The world has been robbed of a daring personality." Ironically, a few years earlier Valentin had been attributed with discovering the free-fall stable position still used by sports parachutists today for safe deployment.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

===New runway===
The city took over control of the airport on 1 January 1961 and prepared development plans. In 1966, a new {{convert|7500|ft|abbr=on|0}} runway was opened by [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]] on a new site to the southeast of the existing airfield. It enabled the airport to be open for business around the clock and is in use to this day. Control of the airport transferred to [[Merseyside County Council]] from [[Liverpool City Council|Liverpool Corporation]] in the mid-1970s and then, ten years later, to the five [[Merseyside]] councils following the abolition of Merseyside County Council. In 1982, [[Pope John Paul II's visit to the United Kingdom|Pope John Paul II visited]] and met crowds at the old Liverpool airport.

===Old terminal (1989)===
[[File:THE FORMER TERMINAL BUILDING AT SPEKE AERODROME NOW THE CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL LIVERPOOL JULY 2013 (9231676102).jpg|alt=|thumb|The old terminal building, used between the 1930s and 1986, now the [[Crowne Plaza Liverpool John Lennon Airport Hotel]]]]
A modern passenger terminal adjacent to the new runway opened in 1986 followed by the closure of the original 1930s building.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = Liverpool John Lennon Airport | year = 2004 | url = http://www.liverpooljohnlennonairport.com/about_us/index.html?history | title = Liverpool John Lennon Airport History | access-date = 15 November 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311043116/http://www.liverpooljohnlennonairport.com/about_us/index.html?history|archive-date=11 March 2005}}</ref>

The original terminal building dating from the late 1930s, famously seen on early television footage with its terraces packed with [[The Beatles|Beatles]] fans, was left derelict until converted into a hotel, opening in 2001, preserving its [[Listed building|Grade II listed]] [[Art Deco]] style. It was part of the [[Marriott Hotels & Resorts|Marriott]] chain of hotels, but is currently the [[Crowne Plaza Liverpool John Lennon Airport Hotel]] after a renovation in August 2008.<ref name="fola">{{cite web|publisher=Friends of Liverpool Airport |year=2011 |url=http://www.fola.org.uk/current.html |title=Recent History and Current Developments |access-date=12 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624063000/http://www.fola.org.uk/current.html |archive-date=24 June 2012 }}</ref> The former [[Airport ramp|apron]] of the terminal is also listed and retained in its original condition, although it is no longer connected to the airport or subject to airside access control. It is the home of several aircraft, including [[BAe Jetstream 41]] prototype G-JMAC and [[Bristol Britannia]] G-ANCF, preserved by the Speke Aerodrome Heritage Group.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} The two art-deco-style [[hangar]]s that flank the terminal and apron have also been converted for new uses: one is now a [[David Lloyd (tennis)|David Lloyd]] [[leisure centre]], the other the headquarters of the [[Very Group]], called Skyways House.<ref name="fola" /><ref name="marriott">{{cite web | publisher = Marriott International Inc | url = http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/LPLMS | title = Liverpool Marriott Hotel South | access-date = 15 November 2005 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051126111239/http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/LPLMS | archive-date = 26 November 2005 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="jscb">{{cite web | url = http://www.jetstream-club.org/ | title = The Jetstream Club | publisher = The Jetstream Club | access-date = 9 September 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080921203138/http://www.jetstream-club.org/ | archive-date = 21 September 2008 }}</ref><ref name="jgw">{{cite web | title = Home shopping jobs go west | work = [[Manchester Evening News]] | date = 14 July 2005 | access-date = 9 September 2008 | first = Patricia | last = Roberts | url = http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/165/165857_home_shopping_jobs_go_west.html }}</ref>

In 1990, the airport was privatised, with [[British Aerospace]] taking a 76% shareholding in the new company. Subsequently, the airport has become a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Peel Group|Peel Holdings]].<ref name="liverpoolecho.co.uk" />

=== New terminal and renaming (2000) ===
[[File:Liverpool John Lennon Airport (Terminal Interior).jpg|thumb|Check-in hall interior.]]
[[File:Aerial View of John Lennon Airport 2020.jpg|alt=|thumb|Aerial view of the airport - the passenger [[Airport terminal|terminal]], [[Parking lot|parking]] and general aviation [[hangar]]s (in the top-right corner)]]

In 2000, work on a £42.5{{nbsp}}million passenger terminal began, tripling its size and passenger capacity, completed in 2002 and opened by Queen [[Elizabeth II]]. There have since been further extensions to the airport terminal and airside.

In 2001, 21 years after his death, the airport was renamed in honour of [[The Beatles]]' [[John Lennon]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Background Information|url=http://www.liverpoolairport.com/airport-information/about-us/liverpool-john-lennon-airport/|publisher=Liverpool Airport|access-date=14 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304025311/http://www.liverpoolairport.com/airport-information/about-us/liverpool-john-lennon-airport/|archive-date=4 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> A {{convert|7|ft|abbr=on}} tall bronze statue stands overlooking the [[check-in]] hall. On the roof is painted the airport's motto, "Above us, only sky"; a line from Lennon's song "[[Imagine (John Lennon song)|Imagine]]".<ref>Peter Adey, ""Above Us Only Sky": Themes, Simulations, and Liverpool John Lennon Airport," pp. 153–166 in ''The Themed Space: Locating Culture, Nation, and Self'', ed. Scott A. Lukas (Lanham, MD, Lexington Books, 2007), {{ISBN|0-7391-2142-1}}</ref>

In 2005, the ''[[Yellow Submarine (sculpture)|Yellow Submarine]]'', a large-scale work of art, was installed on a [[traffic island]] at the entrance to the airport. A permanent exhibition of photographs of [[The Beatles in India]], taken by [[Paul Saltzman]] in 1968 at the ashram of [[Maharishi Mahesh Yogi]], can be seen above the retail units in the departure lounge.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iconic Art Joins Arrivals at John Lennon Airport|url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2007/11/20/iconic-art-joins-arrivals-at-liverpool-airport-99623-20131815/|access-date=1 February 2013|newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post|date=20 November 2007}}</ref>

In 2005, a new apron was constructed exclusively for [[EasyJet]], to the east of the terminal with six stands and a pier with six boarding gates.

In September 2006, reconstruction started on the main runway and taxiways. This was the first time the runway had been reconstructed (as opposed to resurfaced) since it was opened in 1966. This work was completed in 2007.<ref name="surface">{{cite news | publisher = Contract Journal | title = Tarmac's John Lennon Airport resurfacing | newspaper = Airport Technology | url = http://www.airport-technology.com/projects/liverpool-john/ | access-date = 20 April 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120526154725/http://www.airport-technology.com/projects/liverpool-john/ | archive-date = 26 May 2012 | url-status = live }}</ref> In addition to runway and shoulder work was the upgrade of the 40-year-old airfield group lighting with a new system, intended to upgrade the runway to [[Category III approach|ILS Category III]] standards.<ref name="surface"/>

In May 2007, [[Flyglobespan]] commenced a seasonal flight to Hamilton, {{convert|80|km|mi|order=flip}} from Toronto. This was the Liverpool airport's first transatlantic air service.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.liverpoolairport.com/news/2008/09/liverpool-s-first-transatlantic-service-takes-off-to-canada | title=Liverpool's First Transatlantic Service takes off to Canada | publisher=Liverpool John Lennon Airport | date=May 2007 | access-date=8 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/25-jobs-lost-flyglobespan-leaves-3504530 | title=25 jobs are lost as flyglobespan leaves JLA | work=Liverpool Echo | date=25 September 2007 | access-date=8 May 2022 | author=Hodgson, Neil}}</ref> Later that month, the carrier launched a route to New York City using a Boeing 757. Four of the seven weekly flights were nonstop, while the other three operated via Knock, Ireland. [[Yoko Ono]], the widow of John Lennon, attended the inauguration ceremony.<ref>{{cite news | title=New York, New York it's a wonderful trip | work=Liverpool Echo | date=25 May 2007 | author=O'Keeffe, Greg | id={{Gale|A163942972}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.flightglobal.com/atlantic-crossing/73821.article | title=Atlantic crossing | work=Airline Business | date=20 May 2007 | access-date=8 May 2022 | author=Sobie, Brendan | url-access=subscription}}</ref> Several problems beset the service, including technical issues with the aircraft, lengthy delays and low passenger numbers.<ref name="echo707">{{cite news | url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/flyglobespan-axes-new-york-air-3507183 | title=Flyglobespan axes its New York air link with Liverpool | work=Liverpool Echo | date=3 July 2007 | access-date=8 May 2022 | author=Hodgson, Neil}}</ref> Flyglobespan ended up replacing the Boeing 757 with a smaller 737 due to the poor patronage.<ref>{{cite news | title=Liverpool's NY flights lose air safety licence; Struggling JLA transatlantic route forced to divert as CAA imposes restrictions: Exclusive | work=Daily Post | date=19 October 2007 | author=Higgerson, David | id={{Gale|A170038627}}}}</ref> The company ended flights to both New York and Hamilton in October 2007.<ref name="le308">{{cite news | url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/AIR+LINK+TO+NEW+YORK+ON+RUNWAY+TO+DOOM%3b+Axed+city+service+is+not...-a0177031841 | title=Air link to New York on runway to doom; Axed city service is not resumed. | work=Liverpool Echo | date=25 March 2008 | access-date=8 May 2022 | author=Hodgson, Neil}}</ref>

In 2007, construction of a multi-level car park<ref>{{cite web|title=Liverpool John Lennon Airport Multi-storey car park|url=https://www.liverpoolairport.com/parking/multi-storey/|website=Liverpool Airport Multi-story|publisher=Liverpool JLA|access-date=27 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227232134/https://www.liverpoolairport.com/parking/multi-storey/|archive-date=27 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and a [[Hampton by Hilton]] hotel started. The hotel opened in October 2009.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = Business Traveller | year = 2009 | url = http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/hilton-to-open-liverpools-first-on-airport-hotel | title = Hampton by Hilton Liverpool/John Lennon Airport | access-date = 10 May 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091115072018/http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/hilton-to-open-liverpools-first-on-airport-hotel | archive-date = 15 November 2009 | url-status = live }}</ref> In June 2010, [[Vancouver Airport Services]] announced that it reached an agreement with [[The Peel Group]] to acquire 65% share in its airports, including Liverpool.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = Liverpool Airport | year = 2009 | url = http://www.liverpoolairport.com/press-office/vancouver-airport-services-announces-agreement-to-invest-in-liverpool-john-lennon-airport.html | title = Vancouver Airport Services Announces Agreement to Invest in Liverpool John Lennon Airport | access-date = 8 July 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110724141133/http://www.liverpoolairport.com/press-office/vancouver-airport-services-announces-agreement-to-invest-in-liverpool-john-lennon-airport.html | archive-date = 24 July 2011 | url-status = live }}</ref> In 2008, the airport hosted a public art exhibit. [[Liverpool 08 Collection]], when Liverpool was the European Capital of Culture. Airside improvements include additional retail units and a more advanced security area aiming at reducing waiting times, completed in autumn 2010.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = Liverpool Airport | year = 2009 | url = http://www.liverpoolairport.com/press-office/peel-airports-considers-partners-at-liverpool-john-lennon-airport.html | title = Peel Airports considers partners at Liverpool John Lennon Airport | access-date = 10 May 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110724141205/http://www.liverpoolairport.com/press-office/peel-airports-considers-partners-at-liverpool-john-lennon-airport.html | archive-date = 24 July 2011 | url-status = live }}</ref>

In April 2014, Peel repurchased the 65% stake it had sold in the airport giving it 100% ownership once more.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/peel-takes-control-liverpool-john-7027721|title=Peel takes control of Liverpool John Lennon Airport|author=manchestereveningnews.co.uk|date=24 April 2014|access-date=27 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809002325/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/peel-takes-control-liverpool-john-7027721|archive-date=9 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2016, Peel sold a 20% stake in the airport to Liverpool City Council for a reported £12M. This valued the airport at £60M.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/liverpool-city-council-take-12m-11041185|title=Liverpool City Council to take £12m stake in Liverpool John Lennon Airport|first=Tony|last=McDonough|date=15 March 2016|access-date=6 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829182340/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/liverpool-city-council-take-12m-11041185|archive-date=29 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> From 2019 to early 2020, the airport completed some renovation works which made it even easier to get around and also more aesthetically pleasing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD3hbJGaUyQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/ZD3hbJGaUyQ| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=How Safe is Flying in 2020? Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS Liverpool to Dublin &#124; Trip Report|date=14 July 2020 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This included changing the gate numbers from gates 30–43 to gates 11–17, in order to make the gates larger and more spacious, which also involved removing two by merging gates together. In addition, the departure hall, security hall and the entire experience throughout the airport has been altered massively by new decorations and images promoting the surrounding region.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lake District imagery on giant posters at Liverpool airport|url=https://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/17870302.lake-district-imagery-giant-posters-liverpool-airport/|access-date=1 October 2020|website=The Westmorland Gazette|date=30 August 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

{{as of|2024}}, the airport is 47% owned by Peel, 47% by investment manager Ancala Partners, and 6% by Liverpool City Council.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.liverpoolairport.com/about/about-the-airport/ | title = About the airport | publisher = Liverpool Airport | access-date = 1 December 2024}}</ref>

=== Future expansion ===
Possible future developments include an investment of perhaps £100{{nbsp}}million in the airport infrastructure: this might include a [[runway]] extension (enabling [[Transatlantic flight|transatlantic]]/long-haul flights)<ref>{{cite web|last=Houghton|first=Alistair|date=26 March 2018|title=Plan to expand Liverpool John Lennon Airport|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/plan-expand-liverpool-john-lennon-14456433|access-date=16 September 2020|website=Liverpool Echo}}</ref> as well as a new [[cargo]] area south of the runway, new taxiway, terminal expansion (including new food/drink outlets, larger [[Security checkpoint|security]] areas as well as 3 new piers/concourses), hotel/parking expansion as well as the plans for a new [[A-road]] to enhance motorway connections to the facilities.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2018|title=Strategic Vision to 2030|publisher=Liverpool John Lennon Airport|url=https://www.liverpoolairport.com/media/2993/liverpool-john-lennon-airport-strategic-vision-to-2030.pdf|access-date=16 September 2020|website=liverpoolairport.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=March 2018|title=Master Plan to 2050|publisher=Liverpool John Lennon Airport|url=https://www.liverpoolairport.com/media/2957/liverpool-john-lennon-airport-master-plan-to-2050.pdf|access-date=16 September 2020|website=liverpoolairport.com}}</ref> In addition, the airport wants to build a [[nature reserve]] on the coastal perimeter of the [[Oglet|Oglet Shore]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Surface Access Strategy|publisher=Liverpool John Lennon Airport|url=https://www.liverpoolairport.com/transport/airport-surface-access-strategy|access-date=16 September 2020|website=liverpoolairport.com}}</ref> Plans also include schemes to improve public transport connections to the airport, including new [[Bus service|bus]] and rail services to [[Liverpool South Parkway railway station|South Parkway]].