Background Information

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) is one of the UK's longest established operational Airports having been officially opened on 1st July 1933.

LJLA is situated seven miles South East of Liverpool City Centre and adjacent to the River Mersey.

In June 2010, Vancouver Airport Services acquired a 65 percent majority share in Peel Airports Limited from The Peel Group, which includes LJLA. The Peel Group retained a 35 percent share in Peel Airports Limited. The Peel Group had acquired a 76 percent majority shareholding in 1997 from British Aerospace and the remaining 24% shareholding in May 2001.

LJLA is one of the UK’s top 10 busiest airports. In 2009, LJLA served almost 5 million passengers. Passenger numbers have increased seven fold since 1995, with the Airport moving from 20th to 10th busiest airport in the UK. In recent years, Liverpool has been one of the UK’s fastest growing regional airports.

The Airport has been at the forefront of low cost air travel since the mid 1990s, when this growth sector of the airline industry started to develop. Airlines at JLA include two of Europe's largest low cost airlines, easyJet and Ryanair, both of whom have large bases at JLA, offering a comprehensive network of point to point services.

In addition to easyjet and Ryanair, principle airlines servicing the Airport include KLM, Wizz Air, Flybe and Eastern Airways.

Significant recent investments include £130 million in a range of infrastructure works including a new and subsequently expanded terminal building, air traffic control centre, hangars, apron extensions, runway refurbishing and upgrading, multi-storey car park and on site hotel. Many of these projects have also received support through the European Objective One programme and other regional funding. The new terminal was opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 2002.

A £12 million development programme is currently underway to provide a new larger security screening area and an expanded departure lounge. The security screening area will be equipped with the latest generation equipment to help reduce passenger security processing times. The expanded departure lounge will include the addition of a number of new and exciting retailers.

This ongoing investment in Airport facilities to provide an efficient operation and high levels of customer service has helped to firmly establish the Airport not only as a gateway to the North West but also as one of the primary airports in the UK. The Airport is now one of Merseyside's major employers, attracting inward investment and bringing significant tourism benefits, helping to boost North West England’s economy.

In recent years, the importance and success of the Airport has been recognised both locally and within the travel industry, including receiving the accolade 'UK Airport of the Year’ in 2007 from one of the industry’s leading trade media.

Liverpool was the UK’s first airport to be named after an individual when it was rebranded in 2001 as a lasting tribute to the Liverpool born, former Beatle, John Lennon.