Flying since 1909
In 1909 flying began in Blackpool, at the same time that the great French aviator Louis Bleriot was making the first historic crossing of the English Channel.
It was also an historic year as Britain's first official major air show was held here at Squires Gate. Pilots of the most primitive flying machines, watched by 200,000 spectators, gave breathtaking displays.
1910 - Horse-racing Course
A year later the Squires Gate land was turned into a horse-racing course when it was leased to a syndicate of businessmen.
However, the venture collapsed at the outbreak of World War One, and
the site was turned into a military convalescent home, which eventually
closed down in 1924.
It was not until 1927 that the corporation announced that a municipal
aerodrome was to be built near to the town's Stanley Park. At the time
you could fly to the isle of Man from here with a return flight costing
only £l.80. You can still see some of the buildings, now part of
the Blackpool Zoo.
But when rival companies began flying from Squires Gate in 1932 it became clear that one airfield would have to close.
A decision was not reached until 1936 when the Ministry of Transport reported that Squires Gate would make a better airport, and a year later flying at Stanley Park ceased.
1939 - Royal Air Force
In 1939 the airfield was taken over by the Air Ministry and developed for the Royal Air Force. Three runways were built, along with hangars and ammunitions stores. At the same time a large aircraft factory was constructed and occupied by Vickers. Between 1941 and the end of World War Two, Vickers produced a total of 3,841 Wellington bombers, all of which were test flown from Blackpool Airport's existing runways.
Also during the war it provided a base for Spitfire fighters, largely to protect the city of Liverpool from raiding German bombers.
1949 - Civil Airport
At the end of hostilities, Squires Gate was designated a Civil Airport, and by 1949 substantial alterations and improvements had been carried out in order to attract a new breed of air traveller.
Blackpool Corporation assumed control of the airport from the Ministry of Aviation in April 1962. In 1987 Blackpool Airport was turned into a Private Limited Company with the Council holding 100% of the shares.
Ever since, no effort has been spared to provide an airport, which meets all the high standards required by the international aviation organisations, and expected by today's sophisticated passengers.
On 11 October 1995 a new £2 million terminal building was declared open, and exactly a year later the old wooden terminal was demolished.
During 2005 the airport enjoyed record passenger figures: around 400,000 passengers traveled via the airport thanks to the introduction of several new flight routes and the introduction of new airlines.
Jet2.com announced flights to Belfast International, Palma, Tenerife, Murcia and Alicante. The low cost airline also revealed that it would be the first airline to base aircraft at Blackpool starting in April 2006.
Ryanair expanded its Blackpool portfolio to include flights to Gerona, near Barcelona in Spain. (Ryanair has been operating flights to London and Dublin from Blackpool since 2003)
At the start of 2006, a £2m refurbishment of the passenger terminal was completed giving the airport the capacity to handle two million passengers a year.
In 2006, more new flight destinations are expected to be announced and forecasts predict passenger figures of 750,000.