Glasgow Airport
Glasgow Airport built by John Laing Construction Ltd.[1]
Glasgow Airport, also unofficially Glasgow International Airport (IATA: GLA, ICAO: EGPF), formerly 'Abbotsinch Airport', is an international airport in Scotland, located 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) west of Glasgow city centre. In 2015 the airport handled over 8.7 million passengers, a 12.9% annual increase, making it the second busiest in Scotland, after Edinburgh Airport, and the eighth busiest airport in the United Kingdom. It is the primary airport serving the west of Scotland and is the principal transatlantic and direct long-haul entry airport into Scotland.
1933 Opened as an RAF airfield. It was initially home to No 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron flying Westland Wapitis before these biplanes were replaced by Hawker Harts in 1934 and again by Hawker Hinds in June 1936. Twelve Hinds and their Bessonneau hangars were damaged during a storm on the night of 26 October leading to the aircraft being moved to Kent. Meanwhile, Avro Ansons arrived before the end of the year carrying out coastal patrol missions.
WWII Throughout the first half of the Second World War the airfield was home to many different types of aircraft for varying lengths of time and roles: these included Supermarine Spitfires, de Havilland Tiger Moths, Bristol Beauforts, Westland Lysanders and Douglas Bostons among others for duties including Army Co-operation and training.
1943 The airfield was officially handed over to the Royal Navy and became known as HMS Sanderling. During this time Abbotsinch was principally used for as an Aircraft Maintenance Yard and for reserve aircraft storage. HMS Sanderling later housed Nos. 1830 and 1843 Squadrons as part of the newly formed Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve primarily flying Fairey Firefly and Grumman Avenger aircraft until these units disbanded on 10 March 1957.
1946 Between 10 May 1946 and 10 March 1957 No 602 Squadron returned to the airfield to fly Spitfires again and then jet-engined de Havilland Vampires from 1951. Evidence of the airfield’s naval history can be seen in the name of a JD Wetherspoon pub at the airport, The Sanderling.
1963 On 31 October the airfield was transferred to the Ministry of Aviation. Renowned architect Sir Basil Spence designed the new terminal building. Construction went ahead despite the controversial nature of the development because the Government had already committed millions of pounds to the development of Prestwick Airport.
1966 Reopened for commercial flights as Glasgow Airport on 2 May , taking over from nearby Renfrew.
Originally flights only operated to other places in the United Kingdom and Europe.
1975 The British Airports Authority (BAA) took control of the airport
1980s When BAA was privatised, Glasgow Airport began to offer flights to other places around the world, flights which previously used Prestwick Airport, which was subsequently relegated as the city's secondary airport catering for low cost airlines, freight and charter operators.[2]
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] British Airfields