Humberside Airport

The airport was previously a Royal Air Force base, RAF Kirmington, opened in 1941 during the Second World War, from which No. 166 Squadron RAF operated the Avro Lancaster. The airfield was closed after the war in 1945, and lay unused as an airfield until 1973 when the local council decided to establish an airport at the site.{{cite web | last=Page | first=Mark | title=and briefly had a different name | website=Grimsby Live | date=2022-06-26 | url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/nostalgia/humberside-airport-opened-70s-briefly-7252176 | access-date=2024-12-20}} Work included resurfacing the runways, installing lighting, construction of a new designated terminal building and the building of a taxiway. In 1974, construction finished and the site re-opened as Kirmington Airport.{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s12.html |title=RAF History, Kirmington |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=3 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509082712/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s12.html |archive-date=9 May 2007 |url-status=dead }} The first commercial flight took place in 1975 to Amsterdam. When the local area was renamed Humberside following local government re-organisation in England, the name was changed to Humberside Airport.

The main runway, designated 03/21 (since redesignated 02/20) was extended to its current length in 1992, allowing operation of much larger aircraft. In the 1990s, the Concorde landed and took off at the airport on several occasions.{{cite web | last=Page | first=Mark | title=Remembering the amazing sight of Concorde at Humberside Airport | website=Grimsby Live | date=2024-03-24 | url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/nostalgia/remembering-awe-inspiring-sight-concorde-1719540 | access-date=2024-12-20}}

In 2008, MAG, the owners at that time, announced that it was conducting a review of its strategy for Humberside Airport, and all options including disposal were under consideration. Initially it announced plans to sell Humberside Airport after nine years of ownership.{{cite news |title=Humberside Airport to be sold off |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/7367258.stm |work=BBC News |date=25 April 2008 |access-date=17 April 2012}} In December 2008, MAG announced it intended to retain Humberside Airport, due to a number of investments, such as the new £1.6 million perishables hub, coupled with a surge in passenger numbers and little interest from potential bidders.{{cite news |title=MAG cancels Humberside Airport sale plan |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/business/s/1085688_mag_cancels_humberside_airport_sale_plan |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=16 December 2008 |access-date=17 April 2012 |archive-date=9 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709032736/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/business/s/1085688_mag_cancels_humberside_airport_sale_plan |url-status=dead }} MAG sold its 83.7% share of Humberside in 2012 for £2.3 million to Eastern Group to focus on the larger airports in its portfolio.{{cite news |title=Humberside Airport sold by Manchester Airports Group |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-19093587 |work=BBC News |date=2 August 2012 |access-date=23 August 2012}} It was later revealed that MAG had bought the airport for almost £8 million more in 1999.

Bristow Helicopters sold Eastern Airways in 2019, but retained its majority share of Humberside Airport.{{cite web | last=Laister | first=David | title=Airport owner Bristow's bankruptcy recovery latest | website=Business Live | date=2019-09-02 | url=https://www.business-live.co.uk/ports-logistics/humberside-airport-owner-bristow-reports-16853625 | access-date=2024-12-20 | archive-date=20 December 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220183726/https://www.business-live.co.uk/ports-logistics/humberside-airport-owner-bristow-reports-16853625 | url-status=live }}

The airport faces competition for flights from East Midlands Airport ({{convert|70|mi|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}), and Leeds Bradford Airport ({{convert|74|mi|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}); all of which, at {{year}}, have a much wider range of scheduled passenger flights. Passengers at the airport peaked in the early to mid-2000s when the facility was used by around 500,000 per year. This fell to around 200,000 passengers in 2016.

In October 2013 SAS Group began daily operations to Copenhagen, only to withdraw the service in April 2014 because of low passenger numbers.{{cite news|title=Flights from Humberside to Copenhagen scrapped|url=http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/update/2014-03-27/flights-from-humberside-to-copenhagen-will-stop/|access-date=27 July 2014|publisher=ITV news|date=27 March 2014|archive-date=27 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727100101/http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/update/2014-03-27/flights-from-humberside-to-copenhagen-will-stop/|url-status=live}} However, Sun Air launched twice-weekly flights to Aalborg and Billund in April 2016, in order to support the off-shore wind industry in the Humber and Jutland locations. These flights were also suspended in December 2016.

The airport is also used to service the offshore gas storage and drilling operations for BP{{cite web|url=http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/STAGING/global_assets/downloads/U/uk_asset_ravenspurn_north.pdf |title=Asset Portfolio - The Ravenspurn North Field |publisher=BP |accessdate=11 April 2012 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and Centrica Storage{{cite web |url=http://www.centrica-sl.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=14&keyfacts=employeeswelfare |title=About Us - Key Facts |publisher=Centrica Storage |access-date=11 April 2012 |archive-date=26 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226152451/http://www.centrica-sl.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=14&keyfacts=employeeswelfare |url-status=dead }} with over 5,000 air transport helicopter movements in 2016, the fourth highest in the UK. On 3 January 2013 it was reported that Bond Offshore Helicopters had been awarded a contract with Perenco and would start operating flights to Perenco's platforms in the Southern North Sea. This now means that the airport has three of the biggest UK helicopter operators based at the airport.{{cite web |url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Jobs-hope-Humberside-Airport-lands-37m-helicopter/story-17746891-detail/story.html |title=Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd wins contract with Perenco Oil and Gas | This is Hull and East Riding |access-date=14 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727035803/http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Jobs-hope-Humberside-Airport-lands-37m-helicopter/story-17746891-detail/story.html |archive-date=27 July 2013 |url-status=dead }}

From 1 April 2015 Bristow Helicopters commenced operations from a new UK Search and Rescue base at Humberside. In October 2016 Bristow Helicopters and Bond (now Babcock) moved their offshore operations to Norwich, leaving CHC and UNI-FLY as the remaining helicopter companies based at Humberside. CHC was scheduled to commence a new contract for Ørsted (formerly DONG Energy) in April 2018, supporting North Sea wind farm construction.

Humberside has one of the highest NEQ approval levels of any airport in Europe,{{cite web|url=http://www.weston-cargo-aircraft-charter.com/dangerous-goods |title=Weston Cargo Aircraft Charter |access-date=11 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402142244/http://www.weston-cargo-aircraft-charter.com/dangerous-goods |archive-date=2 April 2012 }} and saw significant growth in cargo throughput from 144 tonnes in 2007 to 1,132 tonnes in 2011. This was due to regular flights by Icelandair Cargo, however these ceased to operate in 2012 and cargo had reduced to 123 tonnes in 2016.

Humberside International has a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P739) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction. It has an amount of general aviation activity, with five resident flying clubs and organisations offering fixed wing and rotary training. In May 2011, Weston Aviation opened a fixed-base operation (FBO). This will be the first dedicated FBO at the airport, where the company has also opened a regional charter sales office, to promote and develop the use of business and private aviation in Yorkshire and the Humber.

The following airlines operate regular scheduled flights to and from Humberside:{{cite web|url=https://www.humbersideairport.com/routes-and-destinations/destinations-guide/|title=Destinations : Humberside Airport|website=Humbersideairport.com|access-date=2 February 2025}}{{better source needed|date=February 2025}}

{{Airport-dest-list

|{{nowrap|Eastern Airways}} | Aberdeen
Seasonal: Jersey

| KLM | Amsterdam{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221024-klnov22eu|title=KLM Nov/Dec 2022 European Frequency Variations – 23OCT22|website=Aeroroutes|access-date=26 October 2024|archive-date=24 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024140951/https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221024-klnov22eu|url-status=live}}

| TUI Airways | Seasonal: Palma de Mallorca{{cn|date=March 2025}}

}}

File:A war memorial (geograph 4086223).jpg

File:Barnetby Station - For Humberside Airport - geograph.org.uk - 1521749.jpg

The 'Humber Flyer' by Stagecoach no longer serves Humberside Airport. Instead, Hornsby's Bus and Coach run a 2 hourly service to the town of Kirmington, while stopping within airport grounds each way (Monday-Friday).{{cite web | url=http://hornsbytravel.co.uk/timetables/timetable-68.pdf | title=68 Wolds Villager|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204222933/https://hornsbytravel.co.uk/timetables/timetable-68.pdf|archive-date=4 December 2017|access-date=31 May 2020}} c. Hornsby's also run a service every 2 hourly on a Saturday, between the village of Kirmington, to Brigg and further on to Kirton in Lindsey. This service also serves the airport grounds.

The airport lies close to the South Humberside Main Line, which runs between Doncaster and the coast at Grimsby and Cleethorpes, running a few hundred metres to the north of the terminal. There is no stop on the line at this point and passengers must alight at the small, rural and unstaffed Barnetby railway station some {{convert|2+1/2|mi|km}} to the west of the airport, or proceed to Grimsby or Hull and use the bus service.

As of May 2022, a bus service operates from Scunthorpe calling at the surrounding villages (including Barnetby) and terminates at nearby Kirmington. The bus service runs on a two-hourly frequency and calls at Humberside Airport. However, the bus does not call at Barnetby railway station, so passengers must walk a short distance to the nearby bus stop on Kings Road.

The airline Eastern Airways has its head office in the Schiphol House on the airport property.{{cite web|url=http://easternairways.com/|title=Home page|publisher=Eastern Airways|access-date=29 December 2011|quote=Head Office Eastern Airways Schiphol House Humberside Airport Kirmington DN39 6YH|archive-date=4 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104205125/http://www.easternairways.com/|url-status=live}} Links Air was based at the airport, but moved to Doncaster Sheffield Airport in 2014.

BAE Systems opened an aircraft maintenance academy at the airport in the autumn of 2015. It is a partnership with the Resource Group and is known as the R J Mitchell Academy, after the designer of the Spitfire aircraft.

In 2010 a temporary hotel was erected for the use by the gas and oil rig workers. However, this operation is not designed or licensed to operate as accommodation for normal passengers.{{cite news|title=New hotel at Humberside Airport about to get off the ground|url=http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/New-hotel-Humberside-Airport-ground/story-11527923-detail/story.html#axzz2eg6CJPvG|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130912120859/http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/New-hotel-Humberside-Airport-ground/story-11527923-detail/story.html%23axzz2eg6CJPvG|url-status=dead|access-date=12 September 2013|newspaper=Grimsby Telegraph|date=14 July 2010|quote=It is the first on-site hotel at the airport and is designed solely for offshore oil and gas workers and other business personnel.|archive-date=12 September 2013}}{{cite web|title=Nightel|url=http://www.humbersideairport.com/at-the-airport/nightel/|publisher=Humberside Airport|access-date=12 September 2013}} This is a temporary structure run by Nightel,[https://web.archive.org/web/20151011123253/http://nightel.co.uk/ Nightel] a locally based niche business. There was a plan to build a permanent structure in the next five years once demand for the facility had been confirmed.{{cite news|title=Cueing up to stay at airport's hotel|url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Cueing-stay-airport-s-hotel/story-11956070-detail/story.html#axzz2eg8AbjH6|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130912120913/http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Cueing-stay-airport-s-hotel/story-11956070-detail/story.html%23axzz2eg8AbjH6|url-status=dead|access-date=12 September 2013|newspaper=Hull Daily Mail|date=30 June 2010|quote=Mr Green said: "The hotel is a temporary building because we need to be able to prove the market is there. ... We will get off the ground with this building then build a fully operative hotel when the time when necessary.|archive-date=12 September 2013}} 'Cueing' is exactly what the newspaper said A new 100 bedroom hotel, operating under the Hampton by Hilton brand, opened next to Nightel in July 2017.

9 October 2013 – The passenger of Cessna 172 G-BCYR made a successful emergency landing at Humberside following the death of its pilot in flight. The passenger had no flying experience and was talked down by flying instructors. He had been on a local flight from Sandtoft Airfield, Lincolnshire when the pilot died.{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/humberside-airport-hero-john-wildey-2355264 |title=Humberside Airport hero revealed: Modest pensioner who landed plane after pilot collapsed says I was 'just holding the stick' |first1=Lucy |last1=Thornton |first2=Martin |last2=Bagot |work=Daily Mirror |publisher=Trinity Mirror |date=9 October 2013 |access-date=27 March 2014 |archive-date=26 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140526054834/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/humberside-airport-hero-john-wildey-2355264 |url-status=live }} The incident formed the basis of a documentary broadcast in the United Kingdom by Channel 4 on 27 March 2014.{{cite AV media |title=Mayday: The passenger who landed a plane |publisher=Channel 4 |date=27 March 2014 |time=21:00 }}

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Commons category-inline|Humberside Airport}}

• [http://www.humbersideairport.com Official website]

{{Portal bar|United Kingdom|England|Aviation}}

{{Airports in the United Kingdom}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Airports in England

Category:Airports in Lincolnshire

Category:Airports established in 1974

Category:1974 establishments in England