News: Coventry terminal bid rejected
Flights > News > # 1322 (18/06/2007)
Coventry airport’s future plans have been dealt a hammer blow after its application to build a permanent passenger terminal was rejected by the government.
The planning refusal comes after a mammoth seven month long public inquiry last year during which Coventry Airport faced opposition from a local residents group and nearby Birmingham International Airport, which feared growth at Coventry could scupper its own ambitious expansion plans.
Secretaries of state Ruth Kelly (Local Government) and Douglas Alexander (Transport) agreed with the planning inspector that extra flights from Coventry would lead to more noise and pollution to people living near the airport or under flight paths, but it was the “Birmingham factor” that was the final nail in the coffin for the new terminal.
The inspector felt a bigger airport at Coventry was not necessary when Birmingham Airport was nearby, and also noted that Birmingham has established public transport links.
Coventry Airport managing director Chris Orphanou promised to take the fight all the way to the High Court if necessary, and insisted it would be business as usual: "We are bitterly disappointed with this decision as an airport and because of the impact it will have on the region.
"Our legal team will now be considering the full implications of the news."
Coventry is currently served by Thomsonfly, with Polish budget airline Wizzair launching flights to Katowice in Poland next month.
Add to:
Related Airports:
Comment:
The Coventry Airport saga has seen enough twists and turns now to earn its own special section in Flightmapping's blog. A full analysis of our reaction to this disappointing decision can be found there.
