A UK airport that opened 90 years ago is set to close its doors for the last time. Coventry Airport, which opened as Baginton Aerodrome, is saying goodbye to passengers and will officially close on June 11.

The site, previously used for training and charter flights, is set to be replaced with a multi-billion-pound energy plant. After opening in the 1930s, the site has since been used for flight training, commercial and passenger flights, and was used as a fighter airfield during the Second World War.

All commercial flights, which served the channel Islands, Spain, Italy, Poland and France, were cancelled in 2008.

Coventry Airport can look back on having hosted Pope John Paul II, who arrived in 1982 in a gold and blue British Caledonian helicopter. He was greeted by a crowd of 350,000 before celebrating Mass and administering the sacrament of confirmation.

While there is sadness over the closure, there was delight at the special guests who made the final private flight into the airport – none other than pop stars Take That.

Coventry Airport’s Facebook page wrote: “Those nice gentlemen from Take That flew into Coventry Airport this evening and when they found out that they were our last ever passengers on our last booked commercial flight prior to closing, they insisted on a photograph with ground crew to mark the occasion.

“Normally the ground crew would turn down such a request as we don’t like people using our image to further their careers, but on this special occasion, and because they asked nicely, we agree.”

A statement on Coventry Airport’s website says: “In November 2025 Coventry Airport submitted an application to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) giving formal notification of the intention to cease runway operations from 11 June 2026. In accordance with relevant regulations, all affected parties have been notified. “