An airport of many names: Bournemouth Airport started life as RAF Hurn in 1941. It was transferred to civil control in 1944 and known as Hurn Airport. In 1969 it was purchased by Bournemouth Corporation and Dorset County Council who ran it as Bournemouth Airport (later renamed to Bournemouth International Airport). In 1995 it was sold to National Express. In 2001 the ownership passed to Manchester Airports Group. In 2017 it was bought by the Rigby Group and is now referred to as Bournemouth Airport.

Once upon a time – a main terminal. According to hampshireairfields.co.uk Hurn Airport was the main terminal for international airline flights into the UK until 1948. In 1949 Heathrow Airport was opened and the airline operations moved there. BOAC who had a maintenance base at Hurn also departed.

It has its own enthusiasts group. Bournemouth Airport Enthusiasts Group provides up-to-the-minute information of movements in and out of the airport. Visit aviation-links.co.uk and email EGHH+subscribe@googlegroups.com.

Red Arrow connection. The iconic RAF Red Arrows often rest and refuel at Bournemouth Airport and can normally be spotted there during the Bournemouth Air Festival.

British Airways’ aircraft park. During 2020, Bournemouth Airport became a British Airways aircraft ‘plane park’ for all the aeroplanes that were stored during lockdown following the COVID-19 pandemic. This spectacular sight was photographed for us by CatchBox. All their arrival and departure details were recorded by Bournemouth Aviation Enthusiasts Group. See #3.