Welcome to the Coventry Airport Supporters' Website

Latest News.....

Coventry Airport plans new FBO
Coventry Airport Website 28 Jan 09

Coventry Airport is opening its own dedicated FBO (Fixed Based Operation) to serve the growing executive aviation market.

The new FBO will be situated in Rapide House on the south side of the airport and will be run by a designated airport management team. The building is undergoing a complete refurbishment to ensure the facility will provide for all the needs of this demanding sector. more.....

Coventry Evening Telegraph - 9th December 2008

DESPITE a turbulent year the future of Coventry Airport looks promising, according to the new driving force behind the city’s aviation hub.

Brian Cox, the airport’s new director, is optimistic the recent loss of airlines Wizz Air and Thomsonfly will not have a detrimental effect on the business." More.....

Bosses back city airport appeal bid

Nov 17 2008 By Christina Savvas

BUSINESSES in Coventry and Warwickshire are backing the city's airport directors over the plan to appeal against a recent High Court judgment.

The Federation of Small Businesses surveyed 3,300 members across the region about the airport expansions plans and more than 60 per cent agreed a new terminal should be built.

Business leaders are concerned the city will lose out on job opportunities.

Coventry branch chairman Ric Richards said: "The expansion of the airport is a logical development for the local region and is an essential part of the city's development. In a survey of our 3,300 members throughout Coventry and Warwickshire, over 60 per cent of respondents were in favour of the new terminal and subsequent expansion of the airport.

"The loss of passenger flights will be a blow to the city - indeed, with Thomson having decided to pull out, the effects are already being felt. There is no doubt the expansion would bring new business to the area, resulting in more employment opportunities and, for our members, increased business opportunities.

"This becomes even more pressing, in light of the current state of our economy. It is perhaps true that Coventry has not yet been as affected as the rest of the country, but this does not mean we can afford to ignore job opportunities when they present themselves. The downturn is destined to go on for quite some time and Coventry will not be immune in the coming months. To turn away from a development opportunity such as this, at such a time, is inexcusable."

The last passenger flight in to the airport touched down on Sunday, November 9 and marked the end of an era after four years of cheap Thomsonfly flights to Europe from Coventry. It leaves a huge question mark over the future of holiday flights from the airport at Baginton.

There are now no passenger jets using the airport although bosses say they are talking to other airlines about taking over.

Managers said they were planning to appeal against the controversial decision to refuse permission for a passenger terminal. The long-running expansion plan will continue - five years after the first planning application was submitted.

After the application was refused, an appeal was launched and a six-day court hearing took place earlier this year with airport bosses challenging the government's decision to block the expansion.

But two months ago, a High Court judge in London rejected the appeal for the new terminal which would double the airport's capacity to two million passengers each year.

Bosses say the expansion was essential.

Mr Richards added: "Those 'nay sayers' who do not want the expansion for, allegedly, green reasons, are simply pushing the problem elsewhere. No one who wants to fly will be prevented from doing so, but travellers from this area will simply add their emissions to the atmosphere as they travel more miles than necessary to whichever airport they have to go to.

"And that airport and its surrounding area will get the benefit of the jobs and the other benefits our community will lose out on. Coventry is the ninth largest city in England - we need to act as if we believe it and get behind this appeal."

Coventry Airport: Save our flights!

Oct 17 2008 By Jenny Waddington - Coventry Evening Telegraph

A DRAMATIC operation is underway to save holiday flights from Coventry Airport.

Bosses at Baginton have been talking to 19 airlines since Thomsonfly announced it was quitting the city.

At least three of the firms are big names who believe Coventry has potential for future passenger flights.

Although the airlines are not being identified, bosses claim they are looking at European and British companies, who could replace Thomsonfly.

The Telegraph reported yesterday that the low-cost flights from Baginton would end next month.

The airport's chief executive Chris Orphanou says he's optimistic about the future and revealed steps were already in place to find a replacement airline.

He said: "Everyone needs to appreciate that a regional airport of our size is often confronted with challenges.

"We are looking at a few areas where we can develop, and are already looking to persuade other carriers to come in with us. At Coventry Airport we have a dedicated team, whose job it is to speak to similar airlines to Thomsonfly. We have spoken to 19 carriers. Of those three or four are big play-ers who saw Coventry as having potential."

He denied that competition from Birmingham Airport had led to Thomsonfly's decision. They have been running 35 flights a week from Coventry to eight European destinations.

The announcement from Thomsonfly came days after a High Court judge threw out the airport's appeal to build a new passenger terminal.

The terminal would have doubled the airport's capacity to two million passengers a year. But Mr Orphanou said: "Birmingham's strategy is to service the long-haul market, whereas Coventry could look at the hotspots of the leisure area, such as Greece, Spain and Turkey.

"There is a market there that Birmingham doesn't have and I think Coventry and Birmingham could complement each other. I do not see Birmingham as a threat.

"We have got to be given the opportunity to see where we go from here. We need to look at alternatives and get everybody on board.

"There is a real chance of prosperity for the community and region as a whole. It will benefit the city if the airport is successful.

"Supporting Coventry is not just a task for myself and staff at the airport, it should be everybody getting involved."

The final Thomsonfly flights from Coventry will be on November 2, with the last holidaymakers arriving back on November 9. Anyone due to fly later will have to change their plans.

Thomsonfly has pledged to contact them to offer alternative arrangements or a refund.

A Cloud with a silver lining?

The current economic downturn might bring some extra business to Coventry airport. With the current high price of oil several airlines are planning to ground aircraft during the winter period. Coventry Airport is offering parking for some of these aircraft on a short or long term basis. Tom Freeman the head of business development at Coventry Airport said ' Coventry airport has ample space to acomodate multiple aircraft parking and is currently offering very competitive rates. We can handle most types of jets upto A320/B737 size'

Overwhelming Support for airport Development from the Region

In an article in the July 26th edition of the Coventry telegraph the newpaper reported that ' An overwhelming number of people living in Coventry and warwickshire are in favour of the city's airport expanding. The newpaper conducted an on line poll asking whether the airport should be allowed to expand with a massive 88.1% backing the plans for a permanent pasenger terminal to cater for up to two million passengers a year.

Renewed Support for Airport Development
12th July 2008

In an article published in the Coventry Telegraph John McGuigan Coventry City Council's acting chief executive and city development director has called for a quality airport terminal at Coventry Airport. He is quoted as saying 'It is a very important part of our future. without being facetious I've flown out of Coventry Airport on three occasions and it is the most homely airport you can fly out of. This cannot be the long term future of its terminal facilities. More....

Forum....

An active forum is available to discuss matters relating to Coventry Airport and the surrounding regions, please click here to view.

Who Are We

We are a group of people, independent from the airport, who recognise the importance of the airport to the local economy and community. The reporting on this issue has, thus far, been very biased towards the anti-airport point of view, this website aims to give some balance to the issue.