Squires Gate hosts the first official aviation meeting 18-23rd October
1909
200,000 spectators consume 500 cases of champagne, 36,000 bottles of
beer and 1,000 hams
Frenchman Henri Farman sets the first official British flight record
of 47 miles
By 1911 Squires Gate becomes a racecourse – the first race was the
£1,000 Coronation Gold Cup
WW1 breaks out and the land is used for the King’s Lancashire Military
Convalescent home
In 1919 the A.V. Roe Company offers pleasure flights from South Shore
for five shillings
An Air Pageant is staged again at Squires Gate in 1928 with 73
aircraft from the RAF
Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald opens an aerodrome at a new site
Stanley Park in 1931 at a cost of £39,000
Operators include the British Amphibious Air Company running trips to
the Isle of Man for 36 shillings (£1.80)
By 1933 rival operators start flying again from Squires Gate including
Imperial Airways
War breaks out in 1939 and Squires Gate and Stanley Park airfields are
used by the RAF
1941-45 the Vickers Company build 3,842 Wellington Bombers at Squires
Gate
Post war Stanley Park airfield ceases to operate and the focus for
development becomes Squires Gate
The airport is redesigned in 1949 and by 1950, 25,000 passengers go
through the airport
More airlines are attracted including: Silver City Airways, Pegasus
Airways and Jersey Airlines
The airport’s factory produces Hawker Hunters during the Korean War in
the 1950s
The range of aircraft seen at Blackpool include: Rapides, Austers,
Dakotas, Herons and Bristol Freighters
Blackpool Corporation assumes control of the airport from the
Government on 1st April 1962
The airport continues to grow and by the 1980s there is a significant
increase in air traffic movements and passenger numbers
Cosmos Holidays were also operating ‘Landladies Specials’ – holiday
package tours from Blackpool to the Mediterranean!
Private and Club Flying becomes increasingly popular
In 1987 Blackpool Airport was recognised as a Private Limited Company
with Blackpool Borough Council as 100% shareholder
The choice of routes rises to over 20 European destinations
MAR Properties Ltd purchases the airport in 2004 and invests £2m to
refurbish the passenger terminal
Former England rugby captain Bill Beaumont OBE officially opens the
new facilities including faster check-in facilities, more retail
outlets and spacious seating areas
May 2008, Regional and City Airports Ltd, the aviation arm of Balfour
Beatty acquires 95% of the newly named and rebranded ‘Blackpool
International for Lancashire and The Lake District’
2009, Blackpool International is named passenger favourite in a survey
by Which? Holiday Magazine.
October 2014 – Blackpool International Airport closed for commercial
traffic
December 2014 – Blackpool Airport reopened as a CAT 2 airfield
April 2015 – Citywing commenced daily flights to the Isle of Man
April 2016 – Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone was established with a
25 year lifespan
October 2014 – Blackpool International Airport closed for commercial
traffic
December 2014 – Blackpool Airport reopened as a CAT 2 airfield
April 2015 – Citywing commenced daily flights to the Isle of Man
April 2016 – Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone was established with a
25 year lifespan
