Bournemouth Airport

Bournemouth Airport
IATA: BOH ICAO: EGHH
Summary
Airport type	Private
Owner/Operator	Manchester Airports Group
Serves	South Wiltshire, Dorset, New Forest
Location	Hurn, Dorset
Elevation AMSL	38 ft / 12 m
Coordinates	50°46′48″N 001°50′33″W / 50.78000°N 1.84250°W / 50.78000; -1.84250Coordinates: 50°46′48″N 001°50′33″W / 50.78000°N 1.84250°W / 50.78000; -1.84250
Website	bournemouthairport.com
Map
EGHH Location in Dorset
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 08/26 2,271 7,451 Asphalt
Statistics (2016)
Passengers 667,981 Passenger change 15-16 5.5% Aircraft Movements 36,922 Movements change 15-16 14.2%
Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1] Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority[2]

Bournemouth Airport (IATA: BOH, ICAO: EGHH) (previously known as Hurn Airport and Bournemouth International Airport) is an airport located 3.5 NM (6.5 km; 4.0 mi)^[1] north-northeast of Bournemouth, in southern England. The site opened as RAF Hurn in 1941 but was transferred to civil control in 1944. For a short period Hurn served as Britain's only international airport, until the opening of facilities at Heathrow. Commercial services resumed in the late 1950s, with Palmair commencing flights to Majorca in October 1958.^[3]

Subsequently, Ryanair and Thomson Airways based aircraft at the airport, with scheduled flights now frequently serving Western Europe and the Mediterranean area, with charter and seasonal services serving North Africa, North America, and the Caribbean.^[4] Passenger numbers peaked in 2007 when just over one million passed through the airport. In 2016 the passenger total was around 670,000.^[2]

Ryanair and Thomson Airways remain the primary users of the airport, which is owned and operated by Manchester Airports Group (MAG), the largest British airport operator.

Location

Bournemouth Airport is situated on the edge of Hurn village in the Borough of Christchurch, 4 miles (6 km) north of Bournemouth, 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the A338 and approximately 100 miles (160 km) south west of London. The airport is accessible via the A31 from the M27 and M3 motorways to the east, and via the A35 to the west. The nearest other airports serving the area are Exeter International Airport, Bristol Airport and Southampton Airport.

History

1940s

From November 1944 the airfield took over from Bristol's Whitchurch airport^[5] as the main operating base for British Overseas Airways Corporation until Heathrow fully opened in 1948.^[6] Starting in October 1945 Hurn served as London's transatlantic airport until Heathrow opened to the airlines in mid-1946. In January 1946 Pan Am opened a scheduled New York (La Guardia) to London (Hurn) service, five days a week, using the new DC-4; the journey time was 17 hours 40 minutes.It was also the starting point of the first England-Australia landplane service, which took three days in Avro Lancastrians (modified Lancaster bombers).

1950s-1980s

First charter flights

1958 saw the first Palmair charter from the airport, using a single 36 seat Viking aircraft destined for Palma de Mallorca.^[7] The service was one of the first charter flights in the United Kingdom. 1970's Flights to Spain and Majorca (Mallorca). Dan Air and Silver City operated from Hurn.

Aircraft manufacture

Vickers-Armstrongs took over some ex-BOAC hangars at Hurn in 1951 and started production of Varsities, then Viscounts and eventually, as the British Aircraft Corporation, the BAC One-Eleven. During a 33-year period 222 One-Elevens, 146 Varsities and 279 Viscounts were built and delivered from Hurn making a total of 647 produced at this site.

Some of the development of the ill-fated TSR-2 was also done here (although assembly and flight testing was carried out at Warton, Lancs), as well as the production of Jet Provost wings; other components were manufactured here for Concorde, the Panavia Tornado and Shorts Skyvan. The closure of the British Aerospace site in 1984 ended Bournemouth's role as a significant player in the aircraft manufacturing industry. The former aircraft factory now forms one of Dorset's largest industrial sites, including a base for Cobham plc.

College of Air Traffic Control

Adjacent to the entrance to Bournemouth Airport was the College of Air Traffic Control, operated by NATS, the now privatised provider of air traffic control services in the UK. Established by the Ministry of Civil Aviation as the School of Air Traffic Control in 1949, the establishment was retitled College in 1962. Students from home and abroad were trained in all aspects of ATC operations and went on to work throughout the world. Electronic computer-based ATC simulators were widely employed. Usefully situated at an operational airfield, for a considerable period training in Approach Radar Control was facilitated by the airport ATC unit. Students were able to practise live radar control exercises using temporarily detached Civil Aviation Flying Unit Dove aircraft as live targets. The building was also the home to the Air Traffic Control Evaluation Unit, responsible for developing technology used within the service.

During 2011 NATS transferred ATC training to its headquarters facility at Whiteley near Southampton. The Hurn facility was purchased by a free school, Parkfield School, serving Bournemouth and the local area.^[8]

Change of ownership

In 1969 the airport was purchased jointly by the Bournemouth Corporation and Dorset County Council^[6] and renamed as "Bournemouth Airport" (later to become Bournemouth International Airport). The new owners decided to redevelop the facility as a commercial airport and, by 1980, the airport became used by charter airlines, when European Aviation began services.

1990s–2000s

In 1993, the airport received its first regular passenger flights when Palmair wet leased its first aircraft and European Aviation Air Charter (EAC) started operations. In 1995, the airport was sold to National Express Group and then, in March 2001, was acquired by the Manchester Airports Group, which was at that time the second-largest owner of UK airports.^[9]

In 1996, an extension to the main runway was officially opened by the arrival of Concorde. Travel agency Bath Travel chartered Concorde for supersonic champagne lunches across the Bay of Biscay. Ryanair also began services from Bournemouth to Dublin with a Boeing 737-200.

Since 2001, a Boeing 747SP has been based at the airport; it is used by the Royal Family of Qatar and other VIP government staff from the Middle East state of Qatar. The aircraft is often stored in the former BASCO building (Hangar 12) and is a regular visitor to Zürich Airport and Heathrow.^[10]

In late 2001 Bournemouth Flying Club took the leap into full commercial flight training and established Bournemouth Commercial Flight Training on the former SFT site adjacent to the threshold for runway 08. Bournemouth Commercial Flight Training (BCFT) has adapted and expanded throughout its history, contributing to the overall success of the airport and continuing to make Bournemouth Airport important to the overall commercial flight training in the U.K.

Bath Travel's Palmair remained the prime user of the airport, with a 737-200 permanently based there. In 2005 Thomsonfly became the first major low-cost airline to establish a hub at Bournemouth, allocating two Boeing 737-300 aircraft for scheduled services to Europe and (in 2008) to the Caribbean.^[11] Also in 2005, Air Berlin and EasyJet began services by announcing routes to Paderborn and Geneva respectively. Air Berlin have now ceased operations at the airport. The airport previously had a daily service to the Channel Islands provided by the Jersey-based Blue Islands airline, which withdrew from Bournemouth in April 2009. Polish-based Wizzair also ran routes to Gdansk, Katowice, and Kraków during 2006 and 2007.

Route development

In 2007, Ryanair began to rapidly increase the number of services from the airport, initially starting routes to Marseille, Alicante, and Milan which brought the total to eight. In 2008, Palmair introduced a new series of charter flights to Tunisia, Fuerteventura, Naples, Amalfi Coast, and Rhodes. Olympic Holidays also launched new charter flights to Corfu and Zakynthos in Greece and Larnaca in Cyprus.

On 9 January 2008, Ryanair announced that they would base one of their Boeing 737-800s at Bournemouth from April 2008.^[12] During the first quarter, the airline announced routes to Málaga, Murcia, Palma de Mallorca, Wroclaw and the re-introduction of the Nantes route. An additional flight each day was added to the Glasgow Prestwick route, with the addition of a twice-daily flight to Edinburgh. In May the same year, Bergamo and Beauvais routes were announced to commence in October plus a new weekly ski flight to Turin for the winter season.

Increasing from 14 routes, after the discontinuation of the Nantes route, to 18 - Carcassonne, Faro, Limoges, and Reus were added to the route network in February 2009.

On 25 November 2008, Bournemouth Airport was ranked best airport in the United Kingdom and third best in the world, after Singapore Changi Airport and Hong Kong International Airport, by the Daily Telegraph Travel Awards.^[13][14]

In December 2009, bmibaby announced a new summer route to Jersey. It was the first time the airline had operated out of the airport; they provided three services a week, using a Boeing 737-500. Again in December, Ryanair added four new routes to the network, bringing the total to 17. Another Boeing 737-800 was based at the airport and the airline projected to fly 650,000 passengers per annum at Bournemouth,^[15] however the actual figure was lower.

Following the closure of European Aviation Air Charter, Palmair chartered various aircraft types from Jet2, Viking, Blue Line, Tor Air and Astraeus, before unveiling their new Astraeus-leased Boeing 737-500 (G-PJPJ) on 13 May 2009.^[16] The original agreement was for the aircraft to be leased until April 2012, but the airline ceased operations in October 2010.

Flybe started services in May 2010 but discontinued services in November the same year. It led to no scheduled services from the airport. After a hiatus of services, Blue Islands recommenced services to Guernsey and Jersey on 1 November 2011. Flybe announced on 10 November 2015 that all destinations would end 27 March 2016^[17]

In September 2016 one of the U.Ks newest AOC's Scenic Air Tours started operations from the airport, offering pleasure/scenic flights along the south coast and aircraft rentals. The company has now expanded with a second operating base at Durham Tees Valley Airport in the North East. The company operates two Piper PA28's and one Grumman American AA-5.

In November 2016 Bournemouth based Eagle European commenced operations on its A - B AOC, flying the Cessna 421 Golden Eagle on charter flights, focusing heavily on the Medical role.

Expansion

With the budget increased to £45 million in July 2008, the upgrade will replace the arrivals terminal and upgrade the check-in and departure lounge areas. The number of aircraft stands would rise from 4 to 11. Christchurch Council and central government backed plans for the re-building of the airport terminal, increasing its size by 62%; work started in August 2007.^[18]

Work on the terminal itself is now complete, where the check-in areas, security control and departure lounges have been upgraded. A new World Duty Free store has opened on the airside, as have a new WHSmith store and the UK's largest The Olive Tree eatery. All remaining retail space has since been completed and opened.

The new arrivals hall was completed on time and budget in July 2011. The building produces 70% less Carbon Dioxide than the previous facility with the design taking advantage of the building’s orientation to make maximum possible use of solar gain, solar shading, daylight and natural ventilation. These measures will reduce the need for mechanical and electrical installations which, in turn, will reduce the building’s energy requirements.^[18]

Other improvements to the infrastructure around the airport include more frequent bus services to Bournemouth Interchange and traffic lights at the entrance to the airport have been constructed. Plans for modification of Hurn village roundabout have been planned but a time scale has not been set.

Airlines and destinations

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights to and from Bournemouth:^[19]

Airlines	Destinations
easyJet Switzerland	Seasonal: Geneva
Freebird Airlines	Seasonal: Dalaman
Ryanair	Alicante, Faro, Gran Canaria, Kraków, Málaga, Malta, Tenerife-South Seasonal: Girona, Murcia, Palma de Mallorca
Thomson Airways	Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife-South Seasonal: Corfu, Ibiza, Mahón, Naples, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Rhodes

Statistics

Passengers

	Number of Passengers[20]	Number of Movements[21]	Passengers Change YoY
2003	0460,872	76,177	17.6%
2004	0492,882	77,142	06.9%
2005	0829,108	79,512	68.2%
2006	0960,773	75,505	15.9%
2007	1,083,379	71,742	12.8%
2008	1,078,941	78,527	00.1%
2009	0868,445	82,538	19.5%
2010	0751,331	55,398	13.7%
2011	0613,755	51,799	18.3%
2012	0689,913	51,089	12.6%
2013	0660,272	47,174	04.7%
2014	0661,584	43,122	00.2%
2015	0706,776	43,020	06.8%
2016	0667,981	36,922	05.5%
Source: UK Civil Aviation Authority[2]

Routes

Busiest routes to and from Bournemouth (2016)^[22]

Rank	Airport	Total passengers	Change 2015 / 16
1	Palma de Mallorca	114,694	11.7%
2	Málaga	83,746	26.1%
3	Alicante	64,912	9.6%
4	Faro	54,568	62.7%
5	Tenerife–South	47,295	0.2%
6	Girona	43,831	5.5%
7	Murcia	42,558	18.3%
8	Gran Canaria	35,446	84.2%
9	Geneva	28,384	14.9%
10	Malta	27,861	29.2%

Other facilities

The airport has a 200-acre (0.81 km²) industrial park, including offices and hangars. In early March 2009, Manchester Airport Developments Ltd completed the construction of Cirrus Court, a development of 14 industrial units which is the first part of a number of phases to redevelop the northern aviation sector.^[23]

When Channel Express operated, its head office was in Building 470 at the airport.^[24]

Babcock International Group has its Defence and Security offices located at the airport.

Accidents and incidents

• On 28 January 1972, Vickers Viscount D-ANEF of Airwork Services was damaged beyond repair when the undercarriage collapsed after a heavy landing.^[25]
• Shortly after 17:00 on 11 February 2006, adventurer Steve Fossett made an emergency landing at Bournemouth International Airport, after completing the longest non-stop flight in history, having covered 25,766 miles (41,466 km) in 76 hours and 43 minutes.^[26] Fossett had planned to end his flight 144 miles (232 km) further away at Kent International Airport, but the failure of an electrical generator on board the Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer forced him to issue a Mayday call and land in limited visibility, bursting two tyres as he touched down.
• Between 15 April and 21 April 2010, Bournemouth Airport was closed to IFR Traffic as a result of the eruptions by Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland. The eruptions caused severe disruptions to services as the UK government deemed it necessary to close air space until ash ejected into the stratosphere had subsided. It was originally feared that disruptions could continue as the last eruption lasted around 16 months. Services resumed on 22 April. Despite this, VFR Traffic continued and Bournemouth Airport became the busiest airport during this period as it has a large general aviation clientele.
• 20 August 2011 (XX179) RAF Red Arrows aircraft crashed into a field near Throop Mill, Bournemouth. As the pilot, FLT LT Jon Egging began to break into land the G-Forces caused him to suffer from ALOC.

References

External links

Media related to Bournemouth Airport at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website