Carlisle Airport
Encyclopedia
Carlisle Lake District Airport or Carlisle Airport is located 5 NM east northeast of Carlisle, Cumbria
, England
.
Carlisle has a CAA
Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P855) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction, up to a maximum takeoff weight authorised (MTWA) of 12.5 tonnes.
The airport is located on a hill side above the River Irthing
. The airport has been the location for some prehistoric excavations
Since 30 May 2009, the airport lease has been owned by the Stobart Group
.
opened Kingstown Municipal Airport, at the time outside the borough boundaries which later became the RAF Kingstown
and is now Kingstown or Kingmoor Industrial estate. With the outbreak of war in 1939, RAF Kingstown's runway was too small for bombers, so the Royal Air Force
developed a new airstrip at Crosby-on-Eden
. The new facility came into operation in February 1941 for training operations, designating the station RAF Crosby-on-Eden.
Originally housing No.59 Operational Training Unit the station provided day training for Hawker Hurricane
pilots , which was replaced by OTU17 Group Coastal Command in August 1942 for training long-range fighter crews on Bristol Beaufort
and Bristol Beaufighter
conversion squadrons, as well as air firing and night flying . In August 1944 the station came under the command of 109 OTU, a transport command of Douglas Dakotas
. The station was renamed 1383 TCU 1/8/45. However, the station had no post war use or need, and was closed in 1947 with the airfield returning to Carlisle City Council to continue as a municipal airport.
, the Channel Islands
, Belfast
and the Isle of Man
. Most of the original RAF structures remain intact today, although a lack of investment and maintenance has restricted much of the perimeter road, as well as shortening and weight restricting the runways.
In 1997, the council agreed to extend the runway to allow Boeing 737
's to land into a new air-cargo hub, but the proposal collapsed.
, who owned nearby Corby Castle
in Cumbria
. Haughey invested £4 million in infrastructure improvements but, whilst promising to provide additional facilities and enhancements to the site for the Solway Aviation Museum
, he sold the airfield to WA Developments
in 2006 before achieving this.
, which had acquired Eddie Stobart Ltd.
, the UK's largest haulage contractor, in February 2004. Haughey Airports Ltd was re-named Stobart Air Ltd and a sub-division within WA Developments called Stobart Air was formed. The airport was then re-branded Carlisle Lake District Airport.
Under WA Developments, some development was planned for Carlisle Lake District Airport which would have seen the introduction of freight and passenger services in the future, along with the re-surfacing of the existing runway to accept larger aircraft as part of a £21 million development . Ryanair
also expressed an interest in using the completed airport as a hub .
as the Stobart Group
, Carlisle Lake District Airport initially remained within the ownership of WA Developments, through its subsidiary Stobart Air Holdings. On 10 March 2008, the Stobart Group entered into a £50,000 option, expiring in July 2008, to acquire Carlisle Lake District Airport from Stobart Air Holdings for £15 million (£2.5 million in cash and £12.5 million in new Stobart Group shares). http://www.roadtransport.com/Articles/2008/03/10/130065/Stobart-Group-is-to-buy-James-Irlam-amp-Sons.htm This option was extended in July 2008 until January 2009 for a further £50,000.
On 2 December 2008, the Stobart Group announced the surprise £21 million purchase of London Southend Airport
.
Planning permission was granted in December 2008 for the Carlisle Lake District Airport expansion and other developments, including a resurfaced runway and new terminal, a major transport and distribution facility for Eddie Stobart Ltd, along with a joint headquarters building.
In January 2009, Stobart Group
's subsidiary, Stobart Airports Ltd, exercised its option to acquire Carlisle Lake District Airport from Stobart Air Holdings for £14 million (£1 million less than originally announced). Following an independent shareholder vote, the acquisition was completed on 30 May 2009, and the purchase price was reduced to £9.9 million due to a fall in the value of Stobart Group shares.
In October 2009 Andy Judge (former Leeds-Bradford
, Bournemouth
and Luton
Airports Operations chief) took over as airport manager. On the 7 October at the Cumbria Tourist Board's AGM he confirmed that work at the airport would have begun early 2010 and hoped that flights to Paris
, Belfast
and Dublin would be in operation by 2011.
However, on 19 May 2010 the Court of Appeal overturned the City Council's decision to grant planning permission due to an objection by a local farmer, a Mr Gordon Brown, on the grounds that a full environmental assessment had not been carried out before permission was considered. Eddie Stobart Ltd. expressed disappointment with the ruling and stated that (although they still retained a long-term commitment to Cumbria), in view of contractual obligations, they would now instead have to use facilities elsewhere.
On 17 January 2011, Stobart Air submitted proposals to build a 394000 sq ft (36,603.8 m²) Air Freight Distribution Centre on the site. Under the plans, Eddie Stobart would re-locate all its Carlisle depots to the airport, and there would be passenger flights to and from London Southend Airport
, operated by Aer Arann
, an airline 5%-owned by the Stobart Group
through 35 €1 preference shares acquired on 10 November 2010. A decision is not expected on this planning application until the end of 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-12204299
. It is also home to the Solway Aviation Museum
.
A lorry driving training company, System Training, is based at Carlisle Airport Business Park, a site opposite Carlisle Lake District Airport. This was featured in Episode 7 of Series 2 of the Channel 5
TV programme Eddie Stobart: Trucks & Trailers
, originally aired on 30 June 2011. Ed Stobart, the 20-year-old son of Stobart Group
Chief Operating Officer
William Stobart
, passed his HGV Class 2 driving licence using that school.
Carlisle Lake District Airport hope to provide regular scheduled commercial passenger flights before the 2012 Summer Olympics
.
hope to commence a link from Carlisle Lake District Airport to Stobart Air's other base at London Southend Airport
before the 2012 Summer Olympics
begin in London
.
announced Carlisle Lake District Airport as the venue for their annual free music festival, Radio 1's Big Weekend. The festival took place over the weekend of 14/15 May, 2011 and featured headline acts, such as Lady Gaga
, My Chemical Romance
and the Foo Fighters
. The festival is to date the biggest free-ticketed event in Europe, attended by 40,000 fans over 2 days. The BBC
assembled an assortment of 'stages' on the site, including a huge main tent, with a capacity of over 12,000. The airport has also been used for smaller concerts, such as bands like The Script in 2011.
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Carlisle has a CAA
United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority
The Civil Aviation Authority is the public corporation which oversees and regulates all aspects of aviation in the United Kingdom. The CAA head office is located in the CAA House on Kingsway in Holborn, London Borough of Camden...
Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P855) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction, up to a maximum takeoff weight authorised (MTWA) of 12.5 tonnes.
The airport is located on a hill side above the River Irthing
River Irthing
The River Irthing is a river in Cumbria, England and a major tributary of the River Eden.Rising in the hills around Paddaburn Moor in Border Forest Park, for the first 15 miles of its journey south it defines the border between Northumberland and Cumbria. After passing Butterburn Flow raised bog,...
. The airport has been the location for some prehistoric excavations
Since 30 May 2009, the airport lease has been owned by the Stobart Group
Stobart Group
Stobart Group Ltd is a large British multimodal logistics company, with interests in Transport and Distribution, Estates, Infrastructure and Civils, Air and Biomass, through operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Belgium...
.
RAF Crosby-on-Eden
In the early 1930s, Cumbria County CouncilCumbria County Council
Cumbria County Council is the county council of Cumbria, a county in the North West of England. Established in 1974, following its first elections held a year before that, it is an elected local government body responsible for the most significant local services in the county, including county...
opened Kingstown Municipal Airport, at the time outside the borough boundaries which later became the RAF Kingstown
RAF Carlisle
RAF Carlisle was a Royal Air Force establishment, now closed after being used for a variety of roles over a period of fifty eight years and formerly located north of Carlisle city centre in Cumbria, England....
and is now Kingstown or Kingmoor Industrial estate. With the outbreak of war in 1939, RAF Kingstown's runway was too small for bombers, so the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
developed a new airstrip at Crosby-on-Eden
Crosby-on-Eden
Crosby-on-Eden is the combined name for two villages within the civil parish of Stanwix Rural near Carlisle, Cumbria, England.The two small villages are by the River Eden north-east of Carlisle, joined by a road that previously was the line of the Stanegate Roman road . and are called High Crosby...
. The new facility came into operation in February 1941 for training operations, designating the station RAF Crosby-on-Eden.
Originally housing No.59 Operational Training Unit the station provided day training for Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
pilots , which was replaced by OTU17 Group Coastal Command in August 1942 for training long-range fighter crews on Bristol Beaufort
Bristol Beaufort
The Bristol Beaufort was a British twin-engined torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and developed from experience gained designing and building the earlier Blenheim light bomber....
and Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Beaufighter
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design...
conversion squadrons, as well as air firing and night flying . In August 1944 the station came under the command of 109 OTU, a transport command of Douglas Dakotas
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
. The station was renamed 1383 TCU 1/8/45. However, the station had no post war use or need, and was closed in 1947 with the airfield returning to Carlisle City Council to continue as a municipal airport.
Purchase by Carlisle City Council
In 1960 Carlisle City Council purchased the site and renamed it Carlisle Airport. After a short refurbishment programme it was licensed in 1961 for training purposes and civilian flights to destinations including LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. Most of the original RAF structures remain intact today, although a lack of investment and maintenance has restricted much of the perimeter road, as well as shortening and weight restricting the runways.
In 1997, the council agreed to extend the runway to allow Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
's to land into a new air-cargo hub, but the proposal collapsed.
Sale to Haughey Airports
As the airport had lost £3.5 million on operations between 1979 and 1994, Carlisle City Council agreed to sell the airport on a 150 year lease to Haughey Airports in 2000. The company was owned by Northern Irish entrepreneur Edward HaugheyEdward Haughey, Baron Ballyedmond
Edward Enda Haughey, Baron Ballyedmond, OBE is an entrepreneur and politician. With an estimated personal wealth of £500m, he is the richest person in Northern Ireland, 9th richest in Ireland 250 member list and is joint 132nd richest person in the United Kingdom.-Biography:Edward Haughey was...
, who owned nearby Corby Castle
Corby Castle
Corby Castle is an ancestral home of the Howard family situated on the southern edge of the village of Great Corby in northern Cumbria, England....
in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
. Haughey invested £4 million in infrastructure improvements but, whilst promising to provide additional facilities and enhancements to the site for the Solway Aviation Museum
Solway Aviation Museum
The Solway Aviation Museum is an independently run aircraft museum located at Carlisle Lake District Airport in Cumbria.-About the Museum:The Museum is run by The Solway Aviation Society and staffed by unpaid volunteers. It is a registered charity supported by entrance charges to the Museum, and...
, he sold the airfield to WA Developments
WA Developments
W A Developments Holdings Ltd is the private investment holding company 73% owned by Andrew Tinkler, the Chief Executive Officer of the Stobart Group, and 27% owned by William Stobart, the Chief Operating Officer of the Stobart Group.-The original company:WA Developments was founded on 25 May 1993...
in 2006 before achieving this.
Acquisition by WA Developments
On 7 April 2006, Haughey Airports was acquired by WA DevelopmentsWA Developments
W A Developments Holdings Ltd is the private investment holding company 73% owned by Andrew Tinkler, the Chief Executive Officer of the Stobart Group, and 27% owned by William Stobart, the Chief Operating Officer of the Stobart Group.-The original company:WA Developments was founded on 25 May 1993...
, which had acquired Eddie Stobart Ltd.
Eddie Stobart Ltd.
Stobart Group Ltd is a large British multimodal logistics company, with interests in Transport and Distribution, Estates, Infrastructure and Civils, Air and Biomass, through operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Belgium...
, the UK's largest haulage contractor, in February 2004. Haughey Airports Ltd was re-named Stobart Air Ltd and a sub-division within WA Developments called Stobart Air was formed. The airport was then re-branded Carlisle Lake District Airport.
Under WA Developments, some development was planned for Carlisle Lake District Airport which would have seen the introduction of freight and passenger services in the future, along with the re-surfacing of the existing runway to accept larger aircraft as part of a £21 million development . Ryanair
Ryanair
Ryanair is an Irish low-cost airline. Its head office is at Dublin Airport and its primary operational bases at Dublin Airport and London Stansted Airport....
also expressed an interest in using the completed airport as a hub .
Becoming part of the Stobart Group
Following WA Developments' decision to merge Eddie Stobart with the property and ports company the Westbury Property Fund on 15 August 2007 and to list it on the London Stock ExchangeLondon Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
as the Stobart Group
Stobart Group
Stobart Group Ltd is a large British multimodal logistics company, with interests in Transport and Distribution, Estates, Infrastructure and Civils, Air and Biomass, through operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Belgium...
, Carlisle Lake District Airport initially remained within the ownership of WA Developments, through its subsidiary Stobart Air Holdings. On 10 March 2008, the Stobart Group entered into a £50,000 option, expiring in July 2008, to acquire Carlisle Lake District Airport from Stobart Air Holdings for £15 million (£2.5 million in cash and £12.5 million in new Stobart Group shares). http://www.roadtransport.com/Articles/2008/03/10/130065/Stobart-Group-is-to-buy-James-Irlam-amp-Sons.htm This option was extended in July 2008 until January 2009 for a further £50,000.
On 2 December 2008, the Stobart Group announced the surprise £21 million purchase of London Southend Airport
London Southend Airport
London Southend Airport or Southend Airport is a regional airport in the district of Rochford within Essex, England.During the 1960s, Southend was the third-busiest airport in the United Kingdom. It remained London's third-busiest airport in terms of passengers handled until the end of the 1970s,...
.
Planning permission was granted in December 2008 for the Carlisle Lake District Airport expansion and other developments, including a resurfaced runway and new terminal, a major transport and distribution facility for Eddie Stobart Ltd, along with a joint headquarters building.
In January 2009, Stobart Group
Stobart Group
Stobart Group Ltd is a large British multimodal logistics company, with interests in Transport and Distribution, Estates, Infrastructure and Civils, Air and Biomass, through operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Belgium...
's subsidiary, Stobart Airports Ltd, exercised its option to acquire Carlisle Lake District Airport from Stobart Air Holdings for £14 million (£1 million less than originally announced). Following an independent shareholder vote, the acquisition was completed on 30 May 2009, and the purchase price was reduced to £9.9 million due to a fall in the value of Stobart Group shares.
In October 2009 Andy Judge (former Leeds-Bradford
Leeds Bradford International Airport
Leeds Bradford International Airport is located at Yeadon, in the City of Leeds Metropolitan District in West Yorkshire, England, northwest of Leeds city centre itself...
, Bournemouth
Bournemouth Airport
Bournemouth Airport is an airport located north-northeast of Bournemouth, in southern England...
and Luton
London Luton Airport
London Luton Airport is an international airport located east of the town centre in the Borough of Luton in Bedfordshire, England and is north of Central London. The airport is from Junction 10a of the M1 motorway...
Airports Operations chief) took over as airport manager. On the 7 October at the Cumbria Tourist Board's AGM he confirmed that work at the airport would have begun early 2010 and hoped that flights to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Dublin would be in operation by 2011.
However, on 19 May 2010 the Court of Appeal overturned the City Council's decision to grant planning permission due to an objection by a local farmer, a Mr Gordon Brown, on the grounds that a full environmental assessment had not been carried out before permission was considered. Eddie Stobart Ltd. expressed disappointment with the ruling and stated that (although they still retained a long-term commitment to Cumbria), in view of contractual obligations, they would now instead have to use facilities elsewhere.
On 17 January 2011, Stobart Air submitted proposals to build a 394000 sq ft (36,603.8 m²) Air Freight Distribution Centre on the site. Under the plans, Eddie Stobart would re-locate all its Carlisle depots to the airport, and there would be passenger flights to and from London Southend Airport
London Southend Airport
London Southend Airport or Southend Airport is a regional airport in the district of Rochford within Essex, England.During the 1960s, Southend was the third-busiest airport in the United Kingdom. It remained London's third-busiest airport in terms of passengers handled until the end of the 1970s,...
, operated by Aer Arann
Aer Arann
Aer Arann is a regional airline based in Dublin, Ireland. Aer Arann operates scheduled services from Ireland and the Isle of Man to destinations in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and France, with a fleet of 18 aircraft. Aer Arann has expanded from a single aircraft to Ireland's third largest airline...
, an airline 5%-owned by the Stobart Group
Stobart Group
Stobart Group Ltd is a large British multimodal logistics company, with interests in Transport and Distribution, Estates, Infrastructure and Civils, Air and Biomass, through operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Belgium...
through 35 €1 preference shares acquired on 10 November 2010. A decision is not expected on this planning application until the end of 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-12204299
Current operations
Carlisle Lake District Airport is currently a small regional airport whose main activity as of 2011 is to provide facilities for flight training. These comprise of the Carlisle Flight Training and Aero Club, Border Air Training and Northumbria HelicoptersNorthumbria Helicopters
Northumbria Helicopters are a CAA approved Commercial Charter Company , Flight Training Organisation Northumbria Helicopters are a CAA approved Commercial Charter Company (AOC Operator), Flight Training Organisation Northumbria Helicopters are a CAA approved Commercial Charter Company (AOC...
. It is also home to the Solway Aviation Museum
Solway Aviation Museum
The Solway Aviation Museum is an independently run aircraft museum located at Carlisle Lake District Airport in Cumbria.-About the Museum:The Museum is run by The Solway Aviation Society and staffed by unpaid volunteers. It is a registered charity supported by entrance charges to the Museum, and...
.
A lorry driving training company, System Training, is based at Carlisle Airport Business Park, a site opposite Carlisle Lake District Airport. This was featured in Episode 7 of Series 2 of the Channel 5
Channel 5
-In the Americas:*Channel 5 – Rosario, Argentine television station, founded in 1964, which broadcasts from the city of Rosario*Great Belize Television, Belize television station, known as "Channel 5", founded in 1991 and broadcasting from Belize City...
TV programme Eddie Stobart: Trucks & Trailers
Eddie Stobart: Trucks & Trailers
Eddie Stobart: Trucks & Trailers is a documentary television programme series made by Princess Productions for Channel 5 and broadcast on Channel 5 .-About the show:...
, originally aired on 30 June 2011. Ed Stobart, the 20-year-old son of Stobart Group
Stobart Group
Stobart Group Ltd is a large British multimodal logistics company, with interests in Transport and Distribution, Estates, Infrastructure and Civils, Air and Biomass, through operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Belgium...
Chief Operating Officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
William Stobart
William Stobart
William Stobart is the current Chief Operating Officer of the Stobart Group Limited.He currently lives in his newly built home at Peover Superior in Cheshire....
, passed his HGV Class 2 driving licence using that school.
Carlisle Lake District Airport hope to provide regular scheduled commercial passenger flights before the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
.
Former airlines and destinations
Although regular scheduled flights from the airport have operated, some have never been viable commercially leading to a series of failed operations:- In 1946 after World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, British European AirwaysBritish European AirwaysBritish European Airways or British European Airways Corporation was a British airline which existed from 1946 until 1974. The airline operated European and North African routes from airports around the United Kingdom...
commenced flights to RonaldswayRonaldswayRonaldsway is a place in Malew in the south of the Isle of Man, between the village of Ballasalla and the town of Castletown. It is notable as the location of Isle of Man Airport and historically RNAS Ronaldsway, together with the adjoining customs free zone and industrial estate.Ronaldsway is the...
and BelfastBelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, but these stopped in 1947.
- In 1961 BKS Air TransportNortheast Airlines (UK)Northeast Airlines - formerly BKS Air Transport - was an airline based in the United Kingdom that operated as BKS from 1951 until 1970. NEA's operations and fleet were merged into British Airways in 1976.-BKS:...
operated a service to Leeds Bradford International AirportLeeds Bradford International AirportLeeds Bradford International Airport is located at Yeadon, in the City of Leeds Metropolitan District in West Yorkshire, England, northwest of Leeds city centre itself...
.
- In 1967 Autair started a service to LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, using London Luton AirportLondon Luton AirportLondon Luton Airport is an international airport located east of the town centre in the Borough of Luton in Bedfordshire, England and is north of Central London. The airport is from Junction 10a of the M1 motorway...
at first, then London Heathrow AirportLondon Heathrow AirportLondon Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
. They also operated a summer service to JerseyJerseyJersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
. In 1969 they stopped all their schedules and changed their name to Court LineCourt LineCourt Line was a prominent British holiday charter airline during the early 1970s based at Luton Airport in Bedfordshire. It also provided bus services in Luton and surrounding areas....
.
- In 1978 British Nuclear Fuels began flying nuclear material to customers in the UK and EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, but this was stopped shortly after coming to media attention, only to recommence in 1987.
- In 1982 Air EcosseAir EcosseAir Ecosse was a Scottish commuter airline based in Aberdeen operating in the late 1970s to mid 1980s. They flew between Aberdeen and cities in northern England, such as Liverpool and Carlisle as well as to Edinburgh and Glasgow. They also carried out mail flights for the Royal Mail...
started flights to ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
(AberdeenAberdeenAberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, DundeeDundeeDundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
), and LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, followed a year later for two summer seasons only to the Isle of ManIsle of ManThe Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. After the collapse of Air Ecosse in 1985, its routes ceased and only the route to LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
continued, being run for two years by EuroAir.
- In 1985 Viking began flights to JerseyJerseyJersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
as a charter operation but the following year operated as a schedule by BAF until October 1987.
- In 1987 Air Furness briefly revived Isle of ManIsle of ManThe Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
flights until July 1988 .
- In 1993 New Air started a LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
service to London Stansted AirportLondon Stansted Airport-Cargo:-Statistics:-Infrastructure:-Terminal and satellite buildings:Stansted is the newest passenger airport of all the main London airports. The terminal is an oblong glass building, and is separated in to three areas: Check-in concourse, arrivals and departures...
, but collapsed two months later. Lakeside Northwest continued the service until the end of the year, but also collapsed.
- In 1994 Northumberland-based Geordie Air Travel never got off the ground.
- In 1995 Lewis Holidays planned to run Saturday flights to JerseyJerseyJersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
, which never happened.
- In 1996 Cumbria County CouncilCumbria County CouncilCumbria County Council is the county council of Cumbria, a county in the North West of England. Established in 1974, following its first elections held a year before that, it is an elected local government body responsible for the most significant local services in the county, including county...
refused to give financial support to BelgianBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
airline VLM AirlinesVLM AirlinesVLM Airlines is a Belgian airline whose head office is in Airport Building B50 at Antwerp International Airport in Deurne, Antwerp...
for 4 flights per day to London City AirportLondon City AirportLondon City Airport is a single-runway airport. It principally serves the financial district of London and is located on a former Docklands site, east of the City of London, opposite the London Regatta Centre, in the London Borough of Newham in east London. It was developed by the engineering...
.
Current airlines and destinations
As of 2011, Carlisle Lake District Airport does not provide any commercial passenger flights operated by any airline to any destination.Future airlines and destinations
Subject to planning application approval by Carlisle City Council, Aer ArannAer Arann
Aer Arann is a regional airline based in Dublin, Ireland. Aer Arann operates scheduled services from Ireland and the Isle of Man to destinations in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and France, with a fleet of 18 aircraft. Aer Arann has expanded from a single aircraft to Ireland's third largest airline...
hope to commence a link from Carlisle Lake District Airport to Stobart Air's other base at London Southend Airport
London Southend Airport
London Southend Airport or Southend Airport is a regional airport in the district of Rochford within Essex, England.During the 1960s, Southend was the third-busiest airport in the United Kingdom. It remained London's third-busiest airport in terms of passengers handled until the end of the 1970s,...
before the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
begin in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Accidents and incidents
- On 17 October 1961, a BKS Air TransportNortheast Airlines (UK)Northeast Airlines - formerly BKS Air Transport - was an airline based in the United Kingdom that operated as BKS from 1951 until 1970. NEA's operations and fleet were merged into British Airways in 1976.-BKS:...
Douglas Dakota G-AMVC crashed on a flight from Leeds Bradford International AirportLeeds Bradford International AirportLeeds Bradford International Airport is located at Yeadon, in the City of Leeds Metropolitan District in West Yorkshire, England, northwest of Leeds city centre itself...
to Carlisle. The Dakota crashed on approach to the airport in low cloud, rain and strong winds. The crash killed all 4 crew. - On 21 December 1988, Pan Am Flight 103Pan Am Flight 103Pan Am Flight 103 was Pan American World Airways' third daily scheduled transatlantic flight from London Heathrow Airport to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport...
crashed at LockerbieLockerbieLockerbie is a town in the Dumfries and Galloway region of south-western Scotland. It lies approximately from Glasgow, and from the English border. It had a population of 4,009 at the 2001 census...
. Carlisle was the nearest airport and took 4 movements in the 24 h before the accident, and 196 in the 24 h following the accident: including rescue and media helicopters, a Pan Am Boeing 727Boeing 727The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
, and a United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
C-130 HerculesC-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
.
Radio 1's Big Weekend 2011
In early 2011, BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
announced Carlisle Lake District Airport as the venue for their annual free music festival, Radio 1's Big Weekend. The festival took place over the weekend of 14/15 May, 2011 and featured headline acts, such as Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
, My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
and the Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
. The festival is to date the biggest free-ticketed event in Europe, attended by 40,000 fans over 2 days. The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
assembled an assortment of 'stages' on the site, including a huge main tent, with a capacity of over 12,000. The airport has also been used for smaller concerts, such as bands like The Script in 2011.
See also
- Stobart GroupStobart GroupStobart Group Ltd is a large British multimodal logistics company, with interests in Transport and Distribution, Estates, Infrastructure and Civils, Air and Biomass, through operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Belgium...
- Stobart Air
- London Southend AirportLondon Southend AirportLondon Southend Airport or Southend Airport is a regional airport in the district of Rochford within Essex, England.During the 1960s, Southend was the third-busiest airport in the United Kingdom. It remained London's third-busiest airport in terms of passengers handled until the end of the 1970s,...
- Aer ArannAer ArannAer Arann is a regional airline based in Dublin, Ireland. Aer Arann operates scheduled services from Ireland and the Isle of Man to destinations in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and France, with a fleet of 18 aircraft. Aer Arann has expanded from a single aircraft to Ireland's third largest airline...
- Solway Aviation MuseumSolway Aviation MuseumThe Solway Aviation Museum is an independently run aircraft museum located at Carlisle Lake District Airport in Cumbria.-About the Museum:The Museum is run by The Solway Aviation Society and staffed by unpaid volunteers. It is a registered charity supported by entrance charges to the Museum, and...