New routes are being added this
year, including easyJet flights to
Dalaman in Turkey, Palermo in Sicily
and Pula in Croatia. The operator
expects to fly around 20,000
passengers between Liverpool and
these new destinations this summer.
There are occasional charters,
just like any commercial airport,
but in sports-mad Liverpool, flights
serving major football games
and horse racing are important
traffic drivers. When the city’s two
Premiership clubs, Liverpool and
Everton, are involved in European
competition fans are either travelling to away
games abroad or continental supporters
are flying in for matches at either Anfield
(Liverpool) or Goodison Park (Everton).
On the author’s visit, Everton was playing
Italian team Atalanta that evening and there
were 11 flights from Milan ranging from a
Fokker 50 to Boeing 767 filling the airport’s
remote stands.CONCORDE
The yearly Grand National horse race at
Aintree has also brought about an increase
in traffic. Liverpool has the highest number
of Concorde visits and movements of any
regional airport in the UK as it was used to
operate charter flights to this historic event,
arriving on an annual basis in the 1990s.
In total there were 88 movements from 22
separate visits by aircraft, from both British
Airways and Air France. They often made
short supersonic flights once the racecourse
visitors had deplaned.
Alongside football, racing and events at
the Liverpool Echo Arena the airport has
seen an increase in business aviation.
Airbus Beluga, which carry aircraft parts
between the company’s manufacturing
bases, diverts to Liverpool if the weather
makes it unable to land at Hawarden Airport
where a Airbus factory is located.
The airport has good transport links, with
road access via dual carriageway to the
motorways. Local bus services include an
express route to Liverpool city centre, which
also connects to regional and national rail
networks through the nearby Liverpool South
Parkway interchange.The airport has to work hard to attract
airlines, especially as the main competition is
just 40 minutes down the road at Manchester
Airport. LJLA has improved the terminal
experience with all areas having recently
undergone a refit. Passengers can be at their
departure gate in as little as 30 minutes after
leaving their car due, claim airport managers,
to the proximity of the multistorey car park
and swift security screening times.
A relaxed and hassle-free environment is
the aim, as well as maintaining impressive
on-time performance statistics. Data from
OAG, which compiles punctuality league
tables, shows LJLA has the seventh best
record in the world for scheduled flight on-
time performance when compared to airports
of a similar size. When compared to all
airports globally, LJLA was placed 13th.
The airport is currently in the process ofupdating its master plan with a
target of 7.8m passengers by 2030
and 11m by 2050. It is hoped more
destinations will be added, ideally
including long haul, which will entail
an extension to the main runway.
This would involve adding an extra
1,030ft (314m) to the existing
runway’s 7,497ft (2,285m) at the
eastern end.
It is a positive sign that easyJet
is upping its based fleet from
seven to eight and swapping two
A319s for the larger A320 from this
summer.
To accommodate this increase, new
stands are planned along with an extension
to the terminal.
New hotels, offices, car parking, retail
and commercial services are earmarked
for an area north of the runway, while
the development of cargo, business and
general aviation facilities, including MRO, is
scheduled on the south side.
A spokesman for the airport said: “As part
of the Airport Master Plan a new visitor centre
is planned to the south of the runway which
will serve both the coastal nature reserve
environmental scheme and be a viewing area
for aircraft enthusiasts too and is planned to
be in place by 2030.”
To assist with future plans, Liverpool City
Council acquired a 20% stake in the airport in
March 2016. At the time, Mayor of Liverpool,
Joe Anderson, said: “John Lennon Airport
delivers a huge economic boost for the city
region, it is the gateway to the city from many
destinations and it is absolutely vital that it
continues to grow, create more jobs, boost
economic growth and develop tourism. This
opportunity to play a more active part in its
future expansion and success makes it a
sound investment for the city council.”
Robert Hough, Chairman of Liverpool
John Lennon Airport, said: “We are delighted
by the city council’s decision to invest in LJLA.
They will bring strong support both financially
and strategically, with interests aligned to
those of Peel and the wider city region.”
Considering what has been achieved over
the last 20 years, your author would not bet
against this ambitious airport succeeding in
its goals.24 Aviation News incorporating Jets April 2018The Beatles’ connection with the city is
perhaps most obviously made by a huge
yellow submarine positioned at the entrance
to the terminal area. Martyn Cartledge/
aspphotography.netRyanair has four aircraft based at Liverpool with
another boosting its fleet there during the summer
season. Martyn Cartledge/aspphotography.netAIRPORT BY THE MERSEY
Take-offs and landings at Liverpool John Lennon
Airport are made over the River Mersey at the
western end of the airfield. The airport’s fire and
rescue service has specialist equipment and trains
to deal with potential water-based emergencies.
Birds, attracted by the river, have to be managed to
prevent potential problems to aircraft, while ensuring
their habitats are as unaffected as possible.
On the upside, however, the Mersey helps
Liverpool have a better weather record than most
other UK airports.20-24_liverpoolDC.mfDC.mfDC.indd 24 02/03/2018 14:01