Liverpool Airport's 75th Anniversary

The original Liverpool Airport, now a Marriot Hotel) celebrates it's 75th birthday this year, and the occasion was celebrated by Friends of Liverpool AIrport (FOLA) and the Jetstream Club in association with the MTT.

Several historic aircraft visited the old airside over the weekend and pleasure flights were also in operation on both days. The MTT provided two vehicles to transport passengers for the pleasure flights between the Marriot and Liverpool John Lennon Airport (JLA) on both days, then provided a service between Exchange Street East, via Lime Street, to both the Marriot and JLA, for which the 586 was recreated..

Arriva very generously restored Airporter XL171 specially for the event at the Bootle bodyshop, completely repanelling and repainting the bus, after it was towed down behind Johnsons of Banks ERF tow wagon. It was hoped to have XL171 on the road and running the shuttles between the two airports though unfortunately the mechanical work that was necessary for the bus to pass it's MOT could not be completed in time for the event. However, XL171 was at the event having been towed from Speke garage.

Many thanks must go to Arriva for their restoartion of the Airporter, to FOLA for their organisation of the event and to all MTT members on the day who helped out, especially those who stepped in at short notice, your help was much appreciated!

Chris Tunstall also captured the event in photos: http://m28371m.fotopic.net/c1538776.html

The MTT Shuttles and 586 service:

The Airporter in restoration....