A look back at the history of Norwich Airport over the years

First established in 1933 on the site of a former First World War aerodrome, the airport as we know it today moved to its Horsham St Faith site in 1967 after Norfolk County Council and Norwich City Council purchased the airfield and buildings from the Ministry of Defence.

Chartered holiday flights began in 1971 with Air Anglia creating a base at the airport and with flights to north-west Europe.  

In 1999, the airport was re-branded as Norwich International Airport and Omniport PLC bought out the council in 2004 to become majority shareholders.

Today, the airport supports a mix of commercial flights, holiday charters, and business routes, with airlines like KLM and TUI offering connections to major hubs and leisure destinations. 

In April 2024, Ryanair began operating from the airport with three new routes available to Alicante, Faro and Malta.

Here we take a look back at photographs of Norwich Airport over the years.

The opening of Norwich Airport on May 30, 1970 (Image: Newsquest) A plane from Switzerland arrives at Norwich Airport, July 15, 1971 (Image: Newsquest) The passenger check-in point at Norwich Airport, January 10, 1980 (Image: Newsquest) Security at Norwich Airport in July 1982 (Image: Newsquest) Maggie Turton and John Oxenford manning the control tower, February 25, 1985 (Image: Newsquest) An air show at Norwich Airport in September 1986 (Image: Newsquest) The airport shop in January 1994 (Image: Newsquest) Norwich Airport in January 1994 (Image: Newsquest) Exterior shot of Norwich International Airport in 2001 (Image: James Bass) Passengers at Air 2000 baggage check-in, 2003 (Image: Adam Scorey) Passengers watch the aircraft from the food court in 2003 (Image: Adam Scorey/ Newsquest) Norwich Travel Centre in 2003 (Image: Adam Scorey/ Newsquest) Passengers in the departure lounge in 2003 (Image: Adam Scorey/ Newsquest) Passengers alight from an Eastern Airways Jetstream flight in 2003 (Image: Adam Scorey/ Newsquest) The exterior of Norwich International Airport in 2005 (Image: Antony Kelly) An aerial view of Norwich Airport in 2004 (Image: Mike Page) The airport concourse in 2008 (Image: Bill Smith/ Newsquest)

People boarding a Thomson plane in June 2008 (Image: James Bass/ Newsquest) Clearing snow from the runway in 2010 (Image: Newsquest) An aerial shot of the airport in 2014 (Image: Steve Adams/ Newsquest) Norwich Airport's managing director Richard Pace at Ryanair's launch in April 2024 (Image: Norwich Airport)