News: Coventry Airport appeals against terminal decision

Flights > News > # 1381 (24/07/2007)

The owners of Coventry Airport have lodged an appeal against last month’s decision by the government to reject its application to build a permanent passenger terminal capable of handling up to two million passengers a year.
The planning refusal came 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.
Coventry Airport’s managing director, Chris Orphanou said he will be seeking a new inquiry because the original decision was “seriously flawed in law”.
Orphanou said: “Hundreds of our customers, together with MPs, elected councillors, local businesses organisations and companies wanting to invest in Coventry, have urged us to make the appeal.
“The airport can play a major part in the economic regeneration of Coventry and provide a cost-effective use of resources for customers who would otherwise have to travel to airports as far away as Stansted.”
Coventry is currently served by Thomsonfly and Polish budget airline Wizzair.