Islay Airport (also known as Glenegedale Airport) is located north-northwest of Port Ellen on the island of Islay in

Argyll and Bute Argyll and Bute ( sco, Argyll an Buit; gd, Earra-Ghàidheal agus Bòd, ) is one of 32 unitary authority council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area. The current lord-lieutenant for Argyll and Bute is Jane Margaret MacLeod (14 July 2020) ...

, off the west coast of Scotland. It is a small rural

airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport. Airports usually consists of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surface ...

owned and maintained by

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) is a company based at Inverness Airport that owns and operates 11 airports in the Scottish Highlands, the Northern Isles and the Western Isles. It is a private limited company wholly owned by the S ...

. Today the airport is used for scheduled services to the Scottish mainland, and for

air ambulance Air medical services is a comprehensive term covering the use of air transportation, aeroplane or helicopter, to move patients to and from healthcare facilities and accident scenes. Personnel provide comprehensive prehospital and emergency and cri ...

History

The first airports were built in Islay in the 1930s, although these were just grass strips. In 1940, during the Second World War, the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill ordered military airfields to be constructed in the western islands of Scotland, both to defend against a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

assault on the Scottish mainland and also to provide reconnaissance planes a base to fly missions over the Atlantic Ocean. The present Islay airport was constructed as RAF Port Ellen in 1940, and received a concrete runway in 1942. During the Second World War, over 1,500 Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel were stationed at RAF Port Ellen. The following units were here at some point: * Relief Landing Ground for No. 3 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF (August 1941) *

No. 48 Squadron RAF No. 48 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron that saw service in both the First and Second World Wars. History First World War No. 48 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Netheravon, Wiltshire, on 15 April 1916. The squadron wa ...

* No. 304 Ferry Training Unit RAF (December 1942 - December 1943) *

878 Naval Air Squadron 878 Naval Air Squadron (878 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy and is responsible for the delivery of naval air power both from land a ...

* 890 Naval Air Squadron On 29 June 1994, the

Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the ruler ...

made headlines when he overshot the runway while landing a BAe 146 of No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron of the RAF on the runway of the airport. Although no one was injured, the plane was badly damaged.Official report
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Airlines and destinations

;Notes * Flight operates via Colonsay Airport, Colonsay

Statistics

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links

Official website
for Islay Airport Airports in Scotland Highlands and Islands Airports Airports established in 1940 1940 establishments in Scotland Islay {{UK-airport-stub