LIVERPOOL AIRPORT GUIDE (LPL)

QUICK FACTS Name: Liverpool Airport IATA Code: LPL ICAO Code: EGGP Opened: 1930 Terminals: 1 Runways: 1 Destinations served:80+ Passengers: 5.5m (2009)

HISTORY

Liverpool Airport, also known as John Lennon Airport, started off with a bang in 1933, and Liverpool Airport parking filled up fast. People were hungry for an airport that could ferry them to the northern isles, so traffic picked up quick right after opening.  Like most of the airports in the U.K., during World War II Liverpool Airport became a major military point, and Liverpool Airport Parking was used to store major military vehicles. 

This airport played a bigger function than most.  This was the secret construction ground of many of the bombers that were used by the Royal Air Force and the United States military.  The American manufacturing company Lockheed Aircraft Corporation played a big part in designing bombers constructed at Liverpool Airport.  After World War II, Liverpool Airport saw an immediate increase of air traffic as if nothing had even happened.  Liverpool Airport saw a 25,000 person increase in traffic in only three years, between 1945 and 1948.

In 1961, the city of Liverpool took over the airport and began plans to build a 7,500 ft runway and to expand on Liverpool Airport Parking.  A new terminal was opened in 1986 to replace the outdated one and to help ease congestion and regulate a better flow of traffic.  The original terminal was renovated and turned into the Crown Plaza Liverpool John Lennon Airport Hotel. 

The airport became privatized in 1990 when the  British Aerospace company took over control with a 76% stock holding.  Peel Holdings, Ltd. now has control of the airport and in 2000 major construction began on expanding the terminal to help ease the volume of traffic, and they are expanding on the current Liverpool Airport Parking to create more spaces for travelers to use.  The completion of this expansion occurred in 2002 and now passengers can travel throughout the terminal protected by weather by the new covered walkways. 

2006 saw the renovation of the runways and many of the major services, including Liverpool Airport Parking.  These renovations saw a complete reconstruction of runways, as they are the same ones that have been there since 1966.  Along with renovations to Liverpool Airport Parking, major renovations have been made to the airport’s runway lighting system which will bring them to above industry standards ensuring as much safety and efficiency as possible for passengers arriving into Liverpool Airport.