UK airport closes for good today – last flight on Wednesday June 10 | Travel News | Travel
A UK airport has closed for good today after being opened for nine decacdes. Coventry Airport the in West Midlands was first opened in 1936, and for years, travellers in the air could fly to various European destinations including Poland and Italy, via WizzAir. However, in 2008, the airport stopped being used for commercial flights and had been used for the Air Ambulence Service and private charter flights.
Coventry Airport holds key historical value. Originally opening as Baginton Aerodrome, the site operated as RAF Baginton during World War 2, before commercial flights started in the 1950s.
Popular UK group Take That were the last passengers to fly into the airport, on Saturday, June 6, for their final Coventry Building Society Arena show. All operations were ceased for on Wednesday, June 10 and the airport closed for good on Thursday.
Management at the airport shared an image of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald with ground crew on social media.
“Those nice gentlemen from Take That flew into Coventry Airport this evening and when they found out that they were our last ever passengers on our last booked commercial flight prior to closing, they insisted on a photograph with the ground crew to mark the occasion,” a Facebook post read.
“Normally the ground crew would turn down such a request as we don’t like people using our image to further their careers but, on this special occasion, and because they asked nicely, we agreed. Thank you to Take That for taking some time from their busy schedule to talk to the crew, allow a photo and for wishing us all the best for the future.”
The closure comes as the space is set to be used for a new gigafactory. A formal notice of the closure has also been issued on the airport’s website.
It reads: “Coventry Airport is now closed with all runway operations ceased from 11th June 2026.
“Planning permission is in place for the creation of GreenPower Park – a £2.5bn centre of excellence for battery technology, advanced manufacturing and clean energy with up to 6,000 jobs expected to be created.”
Plans have been approved for the Green Power Park, a partnership between Coventry City Council and Rigby Group, designed to establish a “centre of excellence” for battery technology, advanced manufacturing and clean energy. The development is expected to create 6,000 new jobs.
The site will house buildings measured from 69,000 sq ft to 1.5m sq ft, as well as substantial battery manufacturing plant. The plans had already received a £23m funding package from the West Midlands Combined Authority to start the key Investment Zone.
