Coventry Airport Permanently Closes Today as Final Flights Depart

Historic West Midlands Airport Ends 90 Years of Operations

Coventry Airport officially ends all flight operations today, 9 May 2026, marking the beginning of the end for one of Britain’s oldest airfields. The airport will formally close permanently on 11 June 2026, according to confirmation from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

The closure brings down the curtain on nearly 90 years of aviation history at the site, which first opened in 1936 as Baginton Aerodrome. The airport served as RAF Baginton during the Second World War and has operated in various capacities ever since, from commercial passenger flights to general aviation and air ambulance services.

All businesses and tenants based at the airport have been required to vacate by today’s date, with staff and operations ceasing immediately. The site will be transformed into GreenPower Park, a £2.5 billion battery gigafactory development designed to position the West Midlands as a major hub for electric vehicle manufacturing.

Why Is Coventry Airport Closing?

The decision to close Coventry Airport stems from a joint venture partnership between Coventry City Council and the Rigby Group, which was first proposed in February 2021. Planning permission for the gigafactory was granted in 2022, and the project received a significant boost in December 2025 when the West Midlands Combined Authority approved a £23 million funding package.

GreenPower Park is expected to create up to 6,000 jobs in battery manufacturing and the electric vehicle supply chain. The development will include facilities for battery research, production, testing, and recycling, with a planned capacity to produce 60GWh of batteries annually — enough to power 600,000 electric vehicles.

Jim O’Boyle, councillor for jobs and regeneration at Coventry City Council, commented: “What we want to see are thousands of jobs created here, giving the area an economic lift.”

Impact on Travellers and Local Transport

For most travellers, the closure will have minimal immediate impact. The airport hasn’t operated scheduled commercial passenger flights since 2008, when airlines including Thomsonfly ceased operations. In recent years, the facility has primarily served general aviation, flight training, charter operations, and air ambulance services.

Passengers travelling to or from Coventry have long relied on Birmingham Airport, located approximately 35 minutes away, which offers extensive domestic and international connections. The loss of Coventry Airport does, however, remove a potential alternative for regional air travel and adds to the list of smaller UK airports that have closed in recent years, including Doncaster Sheffield and Plymouth City.

The Air Ambulance Service, which has used Coventry Airport as a base, has confirmed its vital work will continue. The charity is working with both the airport and the Civil Aviation Authority to establish a new airbase in the region.

A Rich Aviation Heritage

Coventry Airport’s history stretches back to 1936, when Coventry City Council developed the site on land in Baginton. During the Second World War, the airport operated as a fighter station and was damaged during the 1940 Coventry Blitz.

The airport gained particular prominence in 1982 when Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at the site during his only UK visit, attracting an estimated crowd of 350,000 people. The airport also became well known for its annual Air Day events, which featured historic aircraft including Spitfires, Lancasters, and Harriers.

From 2004 to 2008, the airport enjoyed a brief resurgence with Thomsonfly operating scheduled jet passenger flights to European destinations including Spain, France, and Italy. However, financial difficulties led to a temporary closure in 2009, and the airport never returned to commercial passenger operations on the same scale.

What Happens Next?

With the formal closure date set for 11 June 2026, work on transforming the site into GreenPower Park is expected to begin shortly afterwards. The development forms part of the Coventry and Warwick Investment Zone, which includes multiple sites collectively branded as the Gigapark.

However, concerns have been raised that no businesses have yet committed to operating the battery facility. Despite this, Coventry City Council revealed that four firms are currently exploring interest in the site.

The Midlands Air Museum, which occupies one end of the runway, has stated it has no plans to close, offering some continuity of the site’s aviation heritage even as the operational airport ceases to exist.

For aviation enthusiasts and those with connections to the airport, today marks a poignant moment — the end of an era for a facility that has been part of the West Midlands landscape for nine decades.

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