Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) is an international airport with flights to and from over 70 destinations across Europe. It’s located about 7.5 miles from the heart of the city and handles about 5 million passengers per year, making it the 13th busiest airport in the UK.

This is a particularly good airport in terms of reliable service. It was the only one in the UK to receive a 5-star rating for flight punctuality in 2019, beating 17 other airports across the nation. The airlines taking advantage of that efficiency include EasyJet, Ryanair, Lauda, Wideroe, Loganair, Blue Air and Wizz Air.

A brief history of Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Liverpool John Lennon Airport has been operational since 1933, making it one of the longest-running airports in the UK. During WWII, civil airline operations ceased and bomber aircraft were constructed inside a shadow factory. Commercial operations resumed after the war.

In 1966, they expanded the runway to the southeast side of the airfield. To accommodate the growing number of passengers, they built a new terminal and closed the original buildings. The old terminal was turned into a hotel, preserving its Grade II-listed Art Deco style.

Liverpool's international airport used to be called Speke Airport but, in 2001, it was renamed after John Lennon of The Beatles, who was born and raised in the city of Liverpool. This is the first airport in the UK to be named after a person. In 2002, Her Majesty the Queen opened the new terminal.

photo by Guillaume Baviere (CC BY 2.0) modified

What are the highlights of Liverpool John Lennon Airport?

Liverpool John Lennon Airport has a modest collection of shops, including a small duty-free section, electronics stores and a newsagent. There’s also a currency exchange, ATMs, a prayer room, baby changing facilities and disabled toilets.

There’s a wide array of restaurants, cafés and food outlets inside the airport terminal. It has famous chains like Burger King, Starbucks, and Subway alongside family-friendly options like Frankie & Benny’s. If you’re just looking for snacks and refreshments, you can get them from vending machines at Check-In and the Departure Lounge.

To avoid the long queues at the terminal, you can book a Fast Track security ticket. You might also want to get a pass for the premium lounge for added comfort and convenience on your trip.

photo by Rodhullandemu (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified

How to get to and from Liverpool John Lennon Airport?

The closest train station to Liverpool John Lennon Airport is Liverpool South Parkway. It has regular shuttle services that will take you to and from the airport.

From the Liverpool South Parkway, you can hop on bus lines 80A, 86A and 89. They operate 7 days a week, with buses running nearly every 20 minutes. They should take approximately 15 minutes to reach the airport.

The airport is about a 30-minute drive from the centre of Liverpool. You can pre-book a spot in the car park to save a little money and skip the long queues. All of their car parks have advanced security systems, including CCTV, exit barriers, and walking patrols.

photo by Rept0n1x (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified

Location: Speke Hall Ave, Speke, Liverpool L24 1YD, UK

Phone: +44 (0)871 521 8484

Geri Mileva | Contributing Writer

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