
Blackpool Airport
Today I’m in Blackpool taking in some of the sites of different aircraft operations at Blackpool Airport. Once named as Squires Gate Airport then Blackpool International the airport first opened in October 1909 where the first public flying meeting was held. Blackpool was once very popular with commercial flights from places such as the Isle of Man & Dublin. In later times towards the end of the commercial era of the International Airport Manchester based company Jet 2 Airways operated flights to the likes of Spain. Unfortunately now the airport is closed to passengers. It closed on the 15th October 2014. Petitions are still ongoing to save the airport. Airfield operations today still much extremely busy with helicopters and private jets. The North West Air Ambulance have a base here along with the Lancashire Constabulary. The airport is also the base of off shore supply services which transports staff and supplies to the nearby Irish Sea oil rigs.
Let’s talk runways
There are two runways at Blackpool airport both made of asphalt.
10/28 1,868 metres in length & 13/31 998 metres in length
In 2022 the airport accommodated 37,259 aircraft throughout the year.