Coventry Airport, a historic aviation hub in the West Midlands, is set to close permanently after almost 90 years of operations. The airport will cease all runway activities on 11 June 2026, with its final flight scheduled for this weekend. The closure marks the end of an era for the site, which first opened as Baginton Aerodrome in 1936 and served as an RAF base during the Second World War.
From Commercial Hub to Air Ambulance Base
In recent years, the airport transitioned from a commercial centre, once used by budget airlines like Wizz Air for flights to destinations including Poland, Spain, France, Italy, and Austria, to serving the Air Ambulance Service and private charter operations. The airport's website confirmed that formal notification of the closure was submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in November 2025, with all affected parties informed.
Redevelopment into GreenPower Park
The site will not remain abandoned but will be transformed into GreenPower Park, a joint venture between Coventry City Council and Rigby Group. This £2.5 billion factory will produce batteries for electric vehicles, creating an estimated 6,000 jobs. The project received full planning permission from Warwick District Council in April 2025, allowing for seven manufacturing facilities totalling 4.8 million square feet.
GreenPower Park is part of the Coventry & Warwick Investment Zone, offering tax incentives including business rates relief, Stamp Duty relief, and higher national insurance thresholds. Councillor Jim O'Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change at Coventry City Council, stated: "GreenPower Park, the UK's Centre of Electrification and Clean Energy, has an important role to play in accelerating the UK's transition to an electrified economy."
The closure and redevelopment represent a significant shift from aviation to green manufacturing, aligning with Coventry's ambitions to become an "Electric City" through projects like Coventry Very Light Rail and a strategic energy partnership with E.ON.
