Blow to Coventry airport expansion plans
Plans for a new terminal at Coventry airport capable of handling two million passengers a year have been rejected.
Airport bosses voiced “utmost disappointment” that, following second public inquiry, the government had turned down the application for the terminal which was to be part of a £50 million capital expenditure programme.
Managing director Chris Orphanou said: “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.”
He added: “Despite this setback, we believe our investment plans will only be delayed slightly.
“We still have capacity at our existing facility and most importantly, all our airlines remain confident with Coventry airport.
“We have already invested more than £5 million as part of the improvement programme and we will continue to move forward with developing other aspects of the business, in particular our airline route network.”
Thomsonfly operates flights to 13 European destinations from Coventry and Wizz Air is to serve Katowice in Poland from next month.
There is considerable interest from scheduled and charter airlines about operating from Coventry, claimed Orphanou.
He described the decision to turn down the terminal planning application as “extremely short-sighted and not in the best interests of the region”.
Orphanou added: “We have established strong working relationships with local businesses, Chambers of Commerce, local communities, tourist bodies and tour operators to promote Coventry and the economic development of the West Midlands. Today’s negative outcome is a stumbling block we intend to overcome.”
The airport was acquired in January 2006 by CAFCO-C, a joint venture between Howard Holdings plc and Convergence International Airports Organisation.
At the time of the acquisition CAFCO-C pledged to improve the airport to accommodate an anticipated increase in passengers and the company has already invested more than £5 million as part of the improvement programme.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025