Humberside Airport Parking

Even though the disabled parking bays at Humberside Airport are located in short-stay Car Park 1, the airport charges anyone parking there the lower long-stay car parking rates. The charge for parking in the disabled bays drops even further if you pre-book.

There is an intercom on the ticket machine located just inside the car park that arriving passengers can use to call the airport's information desk and request special assistance if required. Alternatively, the desk can be contacted by telephoning (+44) 01652 682020.

The distance from Car Park 1 to the information desk in the terminal building is around 246 feet (75 metres).

Competing with East Midlands Airport to the south west and both Doncaster Sheffield Airport and Leeds Bradford Airport to the west, Humberside Airport (HUY) is one of the United Kingdom's smallest international airports, serving less than one per cent of the country's air passengers, which equates to around 220,000 people per year.

The airport is a hub for domestic flight specialist Eastern Airways, which acquired ownership of HUY in 2012; its popular routes from Humberside include flights to destinations in the north of Scotland. Regular flights to various destinations across the UK are offered throughout the year at HUY by Eastern Airways and KLM and, during the holiday season, the airport offers a range of flights to locations across Europe with airlines such as Thomas Cook and Thomson.

Humberside Airport is one of the busiest airports in the UK for air transport helicopter movements and British Petroleum (BP) also uses it for the servicing of offshore gas storage and drilling equipment. There are five different flying clubs based at HUY, whose members are trained to fly fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.

The airport's most popular destination is Amsterdam, with the next-busiest route being Humberside to Aberdeen. HUY was recognised by Airports Council International as the UK's best regional airport with fewer than two million passengers per year in the 2010 Airport Service Quality Awards.

Location of Humberside Airport

Humberside Airport is located just outside the village of Kirmington in North Lincolnshire, 20.2 miles (32.5 kilometres) from the city of Kingston upon Hull (known locally as Hull), which lies on the other side of the Humber Estuary. It is 15.2 miles (24.4 kilometres) to the east of the town of Scunthorpe and 14.1 miles (22.8 kilometres) west of the seaport of Grimsby.

The airport is just off the A18 and has close road links with the A1 and M62 motorways, connecting it to the cities of London and Leeds. The airport serves residents of East Yorkshire towns such as Bridlington and Beverley, as well as people living in the city of Lincoln in the East Midlands, just 32.3 miles (52.1 kilometres) to the south.

The airport's position in the east of the UK makes it handy for flights to destinations such as Amsterdam just across the North Sea and Aberdeen on the east coast of Scotland.

History of Humberside Airport

Humberside Airport was first established in 1941 under the name RAF Kirmington and served as a base for the Royal Air Force for the following four years while the country was at war. The site was left unused and fell into disrepair during the three decades that followed the end of World War II, but the local council decided in 1974 to revive air travel in the area by opening Kirmington Airport at the exact same location. Its name was changed to Humberside Airport six days later, following the creation of the ceremonial county of Humberside. The county was officially abolished in 1996 and replaced by the unitary authorities of North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, Kingston upon Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire, but the airport kept its name.

The airport's facilities have been steadily improving since 1974 and it served 100,000 passengers in a single year for the first time in 1984. Its runway was extended in 1992 to allow larger aircraft to take off and land. Air traffic through HUY peaked in 2003, when more than half a million passengers used the airport, but numbers have since dwindled due to increased competition from nearby airports throughout the north of England. Eastern Group, which owns both Eastern Airways and Humberside Airport, has released plans to expand the airport with the aim of adding new flight routes and destinations to make the facility more competitive.

Archaeological digs at Humberside Airport have yielded evidence of occupation on the site dating back to the Iron Age, including pottery from that era, bronze brooches and third-century Roman coins.

The busiest routes from Humberside Airport are to Amsterdam and Aberdeen, with three or more departures to both airports taking place almost every day. KLM operates the Amsterdam route seven days a week, while Eastern Airways offers flights to Aberdeen every day except Saturday.

Seasonal flights from HUY include routes to Sweden, Jersey, Greece, Hungary and Alicante. All flights depart from the same terminal building.

If you need to contact customer services at Humberside Airport, you can do so by calling (+44) 0844 8877 747.

There is only one on-site hotel open to the public at Humberside Airport, but there are a number of guesthouses near to the terminal.

The on-site hotel is the Hampton by Hilton Humberside Airport, where reservations include secure car parking and a place to store luggage if you arrive early. A hot breakfast is served from 5am every morning and is included in the price of booking. The hotel also provides its guests with free WiFi connectivity and access to the 24-hour fitness suite, which features modern equipment to meet the needs of your cardiovascular workout or strength training routine. The hotel boasts views of the Lincolnshire countryside and offers comfortable accommodation in 100 rooms.

There is another on-site hotel at HUY, but it is only open to people working in the engineering industries. The Nightel at Humberside Airport provides workers from offshore gas facilities and windfarms with everything they need to wind down and recharge while they are away from home, including free WiFi, a complimentary personal laundry service, Sky television and a recreation room.

Just one mile (1.6 kilometres) away from Humberside Airport is the Croxton House Bed and Breakfast guesthouse, where you can stay in a Georgian farmhouse surrounded by attractive gardens. Croxton House has four rooms available and offers long-term parking packages for anyone who wishes to use the guesthouse as a base for their trip from HUY.

Car

The post code DN39 6YH will provide accurate directions to Humberside Airport when entered into a sat nav system; the airport is easy to reach from all directions.

If you are travelling from destinations such as Edinburgh or Newcastle in the north or London in the south, the A1 motorway can take you to within close reach of HUY. Coming south along the A1, you can pick up the M62 eastbound and then take the M180 and turn off at Junction 5 to reach the airport. Travelling north along the A1, you can take the A46 exit to connect with the M180 in Broughton and then leave at Junction 5 to reach the airport.

When you leave the M180 at Junction 5, follow the A18 trunk road for three miles (4.8 kilometres) until you see the airport.

Bus

There are bus services connecting Humberside Airport with Grimsby to the east and Hull to the north. The Humber Flyer service, operated by Stagecoach, connects HUY with both destinations, as well as a number of small villages and rural destinations along the way. Visit the Stagecoach website for more details.

Other local bus services for passengers in the area surrounding the airport include the CallConnect bus, which responds to local requests for bus travel, and the Wolds Villager 68 bus that runs to HUY from Brigg, Wrawby, Barnetby and Melton Ross.

Train

There isn’t a train station at Humberside Airport, but Barnetby Station is just three miles (4.8 kilometres) or a seven-minute car journey away. You can reach Barnetby via connecting rail services operated by TransPennine Express, East Midlands Trains and Northern Rail, whilst the Wolds Villager 68 bus service runs between Barnetby village and Humberside Airport.

Taxi

The airport's approved taxi operator is Cable Taxis; you can pre-book taxis from the firm's stand inside the terminal building. Other taxi firms based in Hull, Lincoln, Grimsby and Doncaster also offer reasonable fares for journeys to and from the airport.

Take 15 minutes of parking for free

If you're not sure how long you're going to be spending at Humberside Airport and you've arrived by car, head to Car Park 1 and take advantage of the airport's offer of 15 minutes' parking completely free of charge. If you're just waiting to pick someone up or if you need a moment to drop off some passengers headed for check-in, you can do so in Car Park 1 without worrying about having to pay for your parking.

E-cigarette advice

If you are taking any electronic cigarettes with you on your journey from HUY and you are flying with KLM, you will need to take them in your hand luggage. KLM doesn't allow e-cigarettes of any kind to be carried in hold baggage. Liquid elements of your e-cigarette equipment must also be taken through security in a clear, resealable plastic bag.

Call ahead with any questions

Humberside Airport is a small facility with a friendly team of staff members who can help you with any questions you might have about the airport. If there is any element of your passage through HUY that you're not sure about, you can call the Information Desk on (+44) 0844 8877 747 and have your questions answered before you get there.

As one of the UK's smallest airports, HUY can be forgiven for having somewhat modest terminal facilities. While the dining and shopping opportunities at Humberside Airport are certainly limited, that doesn't mean you won't find everything you need for a comfortable layover.

A benefit of spending time at a small airport terminal is that everything is relatively simple. The car parks are straightforward to find and all of them are within easy walking distance of the terminal building. Once inside the airport, you'll have no trouble finding your check-in desk or, if you're flying with KLM, the self-service kiosks that allow you to check-in and print your boarding pass in your own time.

The half-hour of free WiFi access is enough for most passengers catching domestic flights at HUY. If you get peckish or want to do a bit of shopping, there is a duty free outlet selling alcohol, tobacco, confectionary and cosmetics, as well as a restaurant serving hot and cold food and a good selection of beverages.

Special assistance is available and the airport offers guided familiarisation visits for people with autism, which can be booked by emailing enquiries@humbersideairport.com or phoning (+44) 01652 682080.

Facilities at Humberside Airport include:

• ATMs

• Car rental

• Currency exchange

• Disabled access

• Executive lounge

• First aid room

• Food and drink

  • Restaurant

  • Takeaway sandwiches

  • Bars

• Information desk

• Parking facilities

• Shopping

  • Newsagent

  • Duty free

• Smoking area

• Travel agent

• WiFi

Book your next holiday

While the majority of UK airports are packed to the rafters with dining options, Humberside Airport is unusual in that it has only one food outlet but two travel agents on the premises. This is hugely beneficial for anyone who has booked their flight through Humberside Airport Travel or Fairs Lloyds Travel, as both companies have fully staffed desks to ensure their customers have everything they need for a safe and enjoyable trip.

It also means that anyone who wants to make plans for future trips to or from HUY can do so through one of two companies that have a wealth of experience and knowledge of the local area.

Make the most of your money

If you wait until you arrive at your destination before taking out your foreign currency, you might find that you lose out due to the exchange rate. To make sure your money goes as far as it possibly can while you're abroad, you can speak to the currency specialists at the Exchange, Humberside Airports in-house bureau de change, and take advantage of the competitive rates and zero per cent commission charged on all currencies.

You can even arrange for the Exchange to buy back any currency you don't spend during your trip, so you're not left with a wallet full of unusable notes when you return to the UK.

Eat big or snack small

As the only place to eat and drink at Humberside Airport, the Aviator restaurant and bar can rely on a steady stream of customers without having to worry about competition from rival outlets. Despite this, it maintains high quality standards, scores very well on food hygiene ratings and offers a menu that includes healthy eating options as well as more indulgent meals, snacks and treats.

You can take a seat at the Aviator and enjoy a sit-down meal with a glass of beer or wine or just pick up a baguette and a coffee if you haven't got time to stop. The restaurant is located before security, so if you're hungry, you'll need to remember not to pass through the turnstiles before paying the Aviator a visit.

If it's just a drink you're after, the Aviator has bars before and after security, so you're covered no matter which part of the airport you're in when you're thirsty.

Upgrade to the Aspire lounge

Executive lounges at airports are often overlooked by the general public, who assume that those plush, air-conditioned rooms with fantastic WiFi and complimentary refreshments are the preserve of high-flying CEOs and suited and booted company bosses.

The Aspire lounge at Humberside Airport, however, is a great example of an executive lounge that welcomes anyone who doesn't mind spending a bit extra for a relaxing airport experience. The lounge is open for five hours between 5am and 10am and for three hours between 3pm and 6pm each day and children are welcome as long as an adult accompanies them.

It features entertainment in the form of televisions, newspapers and magazines to keep you occupied while you enjoy the beers, wines, spirits, soft drinks and snacks that are included in the entry price, while anyone looking to get some work done while they wait for their flight can take advantage of the lounge's writing desks, telephones and fax machines.

Get the best deal

Airports are notoriously pricey when it comes to food and drink; with such a limited offering at Humberside Airport, there is not much scope for bargain hunting. However, you can visit the airport's official website to find out about the regular offers on food and drink at the Aviator restaurant and bars.

Eat the world's best fish and chips

Fish and chips is one of the most popular meals in the United Kingdom, with around 382 million portions being served to hungry diners across the country every year. If you're passing through Humberside Airport, you're handily placed to pick up some of the very best fish and chips available anywhere in the world.

The town of Grimsby has a long history of fishing and is home to one of the busiest fish markets in the UK. Haddock and cod caught in the North Sea are pulled into the harbour there and bought by the town's restaurants to be served fresh every day.

Debate about the best place to eat Grimsby's fish is something of a local pastime, but many online reviewers recommend The Pea Bung at Freeman Street Market - located just 23 minutes away from HUY by car - where you can sit down in the restaurant to enjoy your fish and chips or get them wrapped up to take away. If you want a local twist on this national dish, The Pea Bung's menu includes liver and onion gravy - much to the delight of its regular customers.

Discover The Deep

One of Humberside's most popular tourist attractions is the giant aquarium situated by the estuary in Hull. The Deep is an ideal day out for the whole family and you can get there from Humberside Airport in less than half an hour by car.

Inside, you'll be able to peer into the Endless Ocean exhibit, where sharks, rays, fish and sea turtles swim in 2.5 million litres (549,923 gallons) of water. Other highlights of The Deep include the mesmerising light displays created by baby jellyfish and the hours of fun to be had watching penguins dive from a vantage point beneath the surface of the water.

Take a walk on the Wolds

Carved out by glaciers over 100,000 years ago, the hills and valleys of the Lincolnshire Wolds provide some of the most spectacular walks anywhere in the north of England, so if you want to stretch your legs before you fly from Humberside Airport, you're in luck.

Just 10 minutes away from the airport by car is the village of Caistor. From there, you can step right into a rambler’s paradise and head out across the rolling fields.

Learn about life in Lincolnshire

Free to enter and full of fascinating artefacts about the people who have lived in Lincolnshire over the last few hundred years, the Museum of Lincolnshire Life is only 46 minutes away from Humberside Airport by car.

The museum is an ideal place to head to if you've got a few hours to spare during your layover and want to know a bit more about the region surrounding the airport. If you're travelling with children, they'll enjoy seeing the working Victorian kitchen at the museum and the whole family will find something to excite them amongst the thousands of historic objects gathered there.

Dive into the Doncaster Dome

If you need to expend a bit of energy before your flight from HUY, Doncaster Dome is the place to go. Located just 45 minutes down the M180, The Dome packs a seven-pool water park, an ice rink, a fitness centre, a play zone and plenty of places to eat and drink under its roof. If there are children in your travelling party, they will have a whale of a time - it might even be a highlight of the holiday before you've set off.