Exeter Airport

Exeter Airport was opened on the 31st of May 1937 and was temporarily operated from a tented terminal whilst the real Terminal was being built. The first commercial flight left Exeter Airport on Coronation Day in 1937 after this point onwards the airport had a steady growth of Commercial flights to the Channel Islands.

However Exeter Airport wasn’t “officially” opened until the 30th of July in 1938 by the Secretary of State “Sir Kingsley Wood”. At this point the airport was really just a 90acre field with a 870 yard long runway and a single terminal building. The total cost to Exeter City Council was just £35,000.

The Airports first big break came in 1939 which saw a variety of new flights to Bristol, Plymouth, Lands End & the Isles of Scilly. However soon after the World War 2 broke out and all commercial flights were halted and the Royal Airforce (RAF) took over Exeter Airport and used it as a “Section Station”.

On the 1st of January, 1947 ownership was transfered to the “Ministry of Civil Aviation” whom leased it back to the original proprietors “Exeter Airport Ltd”. Then in 1952 the Airport began to see a influx of airline companies starting to trade at the Airport including: Jersey Airlines; British Wespoint Airlines; May Flower Air-services; Southwest Aviation and Morton Air-services.

In 1971 Exeter City Council & Torbay borough council purchased Exeter Airport back from the RAF. Later Exeter Airtport Ltd revealed big plans to ensure the Airport grew and became a player in International travel and the UK Air Traffic plan. All plans were accepted by building work was carried out accordingly.

Shortly after in 1974 Devon County Council bought out Torbay and became the Sole Owner of the Airport, still under management by Exeter Airport Ltd.

In 1985 the former “Jersey Airlines” now “Jersey Europena Airways” made Exeter Airport its home, meaning all engineering and administrative work was carried out in the airport vicinity.

Exeter Airport was then renamed to “Exeter International Airport” to reflect its size, this came at the same time as the first Concorde arrived carrying many VIPs coming from Heathrow in 2000.

Growth continues and further expansions plans are being negotiated with East Devon Council.

"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."