Owais Crawford
Liverpool John Lennon Airport, formerly known as Speke Airport, has been operational since 1933, making it one of the longest-running airports in the UK. The airport was renamed in 2001, 21 years after the death of John Lennon, to honour the legendary Liverpudlian musician and member of The Beatles. With flights to over 70 destinations across the UK and Europe, it is one of the busiest airports in the UK, handling about 5 million passengers per year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) |
| Location | 7.5 miles from Liverpool City Centre |
| Year of Construction | 1933 |
| Year of Renaming | 2001 |
| Named After | John Lennon, Liverpudlian musician and former member of The Beatles |
| Number of Destinations | Over 70 across the UK and Europe |
| Connectivity | Good road access to M57, M62, and M56 motorways |
| Public Transport | Closest train station is Liverpool South Parkway with regular shuttle services |
| Bus Services | Arriva's 500 bus service, 80A, 82A, 86A, 89, and National Express coaches |
| Parking | 'Long stay' parking available |
| Restaurants and Cafes | Burger King, Starbucks, Subway, and Frankie & Benny's |
| Awards | Best UK Airport in the Which? 2023 UK Airport Survey |
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What You'll Learn
The airport was originally called Speke Airport
Liverpool John Lennon Airport, originally called Speke Airport, has been operational since 1933, making it one of the longest-running airports in the UK. The airport officially opened on 1 July 1933, and scheduled flights began in 1930. During World War II, the airport was operated by the Royal Air Force as RAF Speke, and civil airline operations ceased. However, bomber aircraft were constructed inside a shadow factory, and commercial operations resumed after the war.
The original terminal building, dating from the late 1930s, was left derelict until it was converted into a hotel in 2001, preserving its Grade II-listed Art Deco style. The airport was renamed in 2001 after Liverpudlian musician John Lennon of The Beatles. A 7-foot-tall bronze statue of Lennon stands overlooking the check-in hall, and the airport's motto, "Above us, only sky", a line from Lennon's song "Imagine", is painted on the roof.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport is an international airport located about 7.5 miles from the city centre of Liverpool, serving the North West of England. It offers flights to over 70 destinations across the UK and Europe and worldwide connections to the US via Dublin and Reykjavik. The airport is easily accessible by public transport and road, with excellent parking options. It has a range of restaurants, cafes, and food outlets, as well as a small duty-free section, electronics stores, and a newsagent.
The airport has seen several developments over the years, including the construction of a new apron for EasyJet in 2005, reconstruction of the main runway in 2006, and the start of construction of a multi-level car park and a Hampton by Hilton hotel in 2007. In 2010, Vancouver Airport Services acquired a 65% share in the airport, with plans for future developments, including a runway extension, a new cargo area, terminal expansion, and improved public transport connections.
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It was renamed after John Lennon in 2001
Liverpool John Lennon Airport, originally called Speke Airport, has been operational since 1933, making it one of the longest-running airports in the UK. During World War II, the airport was operated by the Royal Air Force as RAF Speke, and commercial operations resumed after the war.
In 2001, the airport was renamed in honour of John Lennon of The Beatles, a Liverpudlian musician born and raised in Liverpool. This was 21 years after Lennon's death. The airport is the first in the UK to be named after a person. A 7-foot-tall bronze statue of Lennon stands overlooking the check-in hall, and the airport's motto, "Above us, only sky", a line from Lennon's song "Imagine", is painted on the roof.
In addition to the name, other aspects of the airport pay homage to Lennon and The Beatles. For example, in 2005, a large-scale work of art called the Yellow Submarine was installed on a traffic island at the entrance to the airport. Moreover, a permanent exhibition of photographs of The Beatles in India, taken in 1968, can be seen above the retail units in the departure lounge.
Today, Liverpool John Lennon Airport is an international airport with flights to and from over 70 destinations across Europe and worldwide connections to the US via Dublin and Reykjavik. It is located about 7.5 miles from the heart of Liverpool and handles about 4-5 million passengers per year, making it the 12th or 13th busiest airport in the UK.
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It's one of the UK's longest-running airports
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) has been operational since 1933, making it one of the longest-running airports in the UK. The airport is located on the estuary of the River Mersey, about 7.5 miles from the heart of the city of Liverpool, and is easily accessible by road and public transport.
The airport was originally called Speke Airport and was operated by the Royal Air Force as RAF Speke during World War II. Civil airline operations ceased during the war, and the airport was used for the construction of bomber aircraft. Commercial operations resumed after the war, and in 1966, the runway was expanded to the southeast side of the airfield.
To accommodate the growing number of passengers, a new terminal was built, and the original 1930s building was closed. The old terminal, famous for its Art Deco style, was converted into a hotel in 2001, preserving its Grade II-listed status. The new terminal was opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 2002.
In 2001, 21 years after his death, the airport was renamed in honour of John Lennon, a member of the Beatles, who was born and raised in Liverpool. This was the first airport in the UK to be named after an individual. A 7-foot-tall bronze statue of Lennon stands in the check-in hall, and the airport's motto, "Above us, only sky", from Lennon's song "Imagine", is painted on the roof.
Today, Liverpool John Lennon Airport offers flights to over 70 destinations across the UK and
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It's located 7-7.5 miles from Liverpool's city centre
Liverpool John Lennon Airport is located 7-7.5 miles from Liverpool's city centre. It is based on the estuary of the River Mersey, in the southeast of Liverpool. The airport is easily accessible by road, with links to the M57, M62 and M56 motorways, and has good parking options. It is also accessible via public transport, with regular shuttle services running between the airport and Liverpool South Parkway train station, which is located approximately 3 miles from the airport. From Liverpool South Parkway, you can take the 80A, 86A or 89 bus, which operate 7 days a week and take around 15 minutes to reach the airport.
The airport is one of the most efficient in the UK, with a relaxed, hassle-free environment and efficient operational performance. It has been recognised for its flight punctuality and was voted the Best UK Airport in the Which? 2023 UK Airport Survey. The airport has flights to over 70 destinations across the UK and Europe, with worldwide connections to the US via Dublin and Reykjavik. It is also the first airport in the UK to be named after an individual, paying homage to the legendary Liverpudlian musician John Lennon, who was a member of The Beatles.
The airport has a range of restaurants, cafes and food outlets, including well-known chains such as Burger King, Starbucks and Subway, as well as family-friendly options like Frankie & Benny's. There are also vending machines available for snacks and refreshments at check-in and in the departure lounge. The airport has a small duty-free section, electronics stores and a newsagent.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport has a long history, originally called Speke Airport and operated by the Royal Air Force as RAF Speke during World War II. Commercial operations resumed after the war, and the airport officially opened on 1 July 1933, making it one of the longest-running airports in the UK. In 1966, the runway was expanded to the southeast side of the airfield, and a new terminal was built, with the original 1930s building being converted into a hotel in 2001. The airport has seen continuous development since, with a new apron constructed for EasyJet in 2005, and reconstruction of the main runway and taxiways beginning in 2006.
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It's one of the UK's busiest airports
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) is one of the UK's busiest airports, serving the North West of England and located on the estuary of the River Mersey, about 7.5 miles from the heart of the city. It is easily accessible by road and public transport, with excellent parking options. LJLA has flights to over 70 destinations in the UK and across Europe, with worldwide connections to the US via Dublin and Reykjavik. It is also the first airport in the UK to be named after an individual, honouring the legendary Liverpudlian musician and former Beatle, John Lennon, who was born and raised in Liverpool.
LJLA has been operational since 1933, making it one of the longest-running airports in the UK. It was originally called Speke Airport and operated by the Royal Air Force as RAF Speke during World War II. Commercial operations resumed after the war, and in 1966, the runway was expanded to the southeast side of the airfield. A new terminal was built, and the original 1930s building was closed. The old terminal was converted into a hotel, preserving its Grade II-listed Art Deco style.
The airport has seen continuous enhancements to its connectivity, attracting new airlines and reaching new destinations. It has a capacity of 7 million passengers per year and has a single terminal with an arrivals and departures hall connected within a short walking distance. LJLA is also known for its focus on accessibility, striving to make air travel as relaxed and pleasant as possible for all passengers, including those with physical and hidden disabilities.
Future developments at LJLA include potential investments of up to £100 million in airport infrastructure. These plans encompass a runway extension to facilitate transatlantic flights, a new cargo area, a new taxiway, terminal expansion with enhanced food and drink options, larger security areas, and hotel and parking expansions. Additionally, there are proposals for improved public transport connections, including new bus and rail services to South Parkway.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport was renamed Liverpool John Lennon Airport in 2001, 21 years after John Lennon's death.
The airport was originally called Speke Airport and was operated by the Royal Air Force as RAF Speke during World War II.
Speke Airport officially opened on 1 July 1933.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport is the 12th or 13th busiest airport in the UK, handling 4.19 million passengers in 2023.
There are several restaurants, cafes, and food outlets inside the airport terminal, including famous chains like Burger King, Starbucks, and Subway.
