Cambridge Airport

Cambridge Airport
Name	Cambridge Airport
IATA	CBG
ICAO	EGSC
Owner	Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group
Location	Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
Built	1938
Elevation ft	47
Coordinates	52, 12, 18, N...
Website	https://www.cambridgeairport.com/

Contents

History
Facilities
Operations
Airlines and destinations
Accidents and incidents
See also

Cambridge Airport is a regional airport located northeast of the city centre of Cambridge, England. Owned and operated by the Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, it serves as a base for executive, private, and general aviation, alongside its primary role as a major maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility. While it previously hosted scheduled passenger services, its current commercial operations are focused on business aviation and flight training.

History

The airfield was originally established in 1938 for use by the University of Cambridge Air Squadron. During the Second World War, it was requisitioned by the Royal Air Force and known as RAF Cambridge, serving as a base for Bomber Command and later for transport aircraft. Post-war, the site was acquired by Marshall of Cambridge, a local engineering firm, which developed it into a civil airport and a significant centre for aircraft engineering. The airport saw its first scheduled passenger services in the 1970s, with operators like Dan-Air and later British Midland International connecting to destinations such as Amsterdam and Paris. Major expansion of the Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group facilities occurred in the latter part of the 20th century, cementing its role in military and civilian aircraft maintenance.

Facilities

The airport features a single asphalt runway, designated 05/23, which measures 1,956 metres in length. Its primary infrastructure is dominated by the extensive hangars and workshops of the Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, which are among the largest of their kind in Europe. The airport's passenger terminal, though modest in scale following the cessation of scheduled services, supports fixed-base operator services for private aviation. Other key facilities include modern air traffic control systems, dedicated areas for flight training schools, and extensive apron space for aircraft parking and servicing.

Operations

Day-to-day operations are centred on the activities of the Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, which conducts heavy maintenance, modification, and conversion programs for a wide range of aircraft, including those for the Royal Air Force, NATO allies, and commercial operators. The airport is a busy hub for general aviation, providing services for executive jet travel, air taxi companies, and aerial work such as surveying. It is also a key base for several flight training organisations, including those affiliated with the University of Cambridge. Air traffic services are provided to a controlled zone, managing a mix of light aircraft, business jets, and occasional military transport movements.

Airlines and destinations

As of the early 2020s, the airport no longer hosts any scheduled passenger airline services. Previous operators of scheduled routes included British Midland International, CityJet, and VLM Airlines, with connections to hubs like Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin. Current aviation activity is exclusively non-scheduled, comprising private jet charters operated by companies such as TAG Aviation and Air Charter Service, along with air taxi and ambulance aircraft operations. The airport remains a destination for ad hoc cargo flights related to its engineering operations.

Accidents and incidents

On 3 February 1971, a Handley Page Dart Herald operated by British Midland International on a training flight crashed following an engine failure shortly after takeoff, resulting in fatalities. A notable incident occurred on 19 May 1989, when a Cessna 421 carrying the prominent businessman Alan Sugar made a wheels-up landing after the pilot failed to lower the undercarriage; there were no serious injuries. The airport has also been the site of several minor general aviation incidents involving light aircraft during training or approach phases, none of which resulted in major casualties.