A historic UK airport has permanently closed its runways after 90 years of operations, with all flights officially cancelled as the site prepares for a multi-billion-pound transformation. Coventry Airport, formerly known as Baginton Aerodrome, ceased runway operations on June 11, 2026, ending nearly a century of aviation history.
History of Coventry Airport
The airfield first opened in the 1930s and played a key role during World War II as a fighter airfield. In the decades that followed, it developed into a commercial and passenger airport, with travellers able to fly to the Channel Islands, Poland, France, Italy and Spain. However, all commercial flights from Coventry Airport were cancelled in 2008, with the site becoming almost exclusively dedicated to charter travel and flight training.
Famous Visitors
The airport welcomed a host of famous faces over the years and became the arrival point for several major historic visits to Britain. Among its most memorable moments was the arrival of Pope John Paul II in 1982, when a crowd of 350,000 people gathered to welcome him. A year later, the then Prince Charles visited Coventry in 1983, further cementing the area's links to major historic occasions. In one of the airport's final chapters, members of Take That were among the last passengers to pass through the site before its closure.
Closure Announcement
The closure had been planned for several months. A statement published on Coventry Airport's website explained that the process began in late 2025. It said: "In November 2025, Coventry Airport submitted an application to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) giving formal notification of the intention to cease runway operations from June 11, 2026. In accordance with relevant regulations, all affected parties have been notified."
Final Flights
Marking the occasion, Coventry Airport shared a tongue-in-cheek message on Facebook. The airport said: "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 ground crew to mark the occasion. 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 agree."
Future Development
The closure marks the end of an era for one of the UK's historic airports, but a new chapter is already being planned for the site. Coventry Airport is set to be transformed into GreenPower Park, a £2.5 billion battery and clean energy development. The ambitious scheme is expected to create up to 6,000 jobs and aims to put Coventry firmly on the map as a major hub for Net Zero energy.
After almost 90 years of serving pilots, passengers and a host of famous visitors, the airport's runways have fallen silent, bringing the curtain down on a landmark piece of British aviation history.
