Coventry Airport has officially ceased all flights, marking the end of 90 years of operation, with the site set for permanent closure on June 11, as confirmed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This closure paves the way for the airport's transformation into a new multi-billion-pound green energy plant.

The airport's history spans decades, beginning its life in 1936 as Baginton Aerodrome. During the Second World War, it served as RAF Baginton. Over the years, Coventry Airport offered a variety of services, including commercial passenger flights, general aviation, and air ambulance services. Passenger flights largely commenced in the 1950s, initially transporting customers to the Channel Islands. In the 1980s, Hards Travel utilized the airport for package holiday flights to European destinations such as France, Spain, and Italy. The early 2000s saw Thomsonfly and Wizz Air operating flights to numerous European locations. However, scheduled passenger flights ceased in 2008, largely due to intense competition from nearby Birmingham Airport.

In 2010, the airport was acquired by its current owners, The Rigby Group. Last year, a significant public-private joint venture with Coventry City Council was announced, detailing plans to redevelop the site into GreenPower Park. This ambitious project will see the site converted into a £2.5 billion battery factory specifically designed for electric vehicle production. This development is projected to create up to 6,000 jobs, providing a substantial economic boost to the area.

Jim O'Boyle, formerly responsible for jobs and regeneration at the local authority, expressed his vision for the project, stating, 'What we want to see are thousands of jobs created here, giving the area an economic lift.' The GreenPower Park is envisioned as a collaborative hub, described on its project website as 'a place where like-minded businesses can collaborate, innovate and scale next generation technologies.'