[6] By the late 1930s, air traffic from Liverpool was beginning to take off with increasing demand for Irish Sea crossings, and a distinctive passenger terminal, control tower and two large aircraft hangars were built.

Rootes built in a "shadow factory" by the airport to produce Bristol Blenheims and 1,070 Handley Page Halifax bombers.

[9] Lockheed Aircraft Corporation assembled many types of planes at the airport, including Hudsons and Mustang fighters, that had been shipped from the United States in parts to Liverpool Docks.

[6] On 8 October 1940 (one day before John Lennon's birth), Speke was witness to what is thought to be the fastest air-to-air combat "kill" in the Battle of Britain and possibly of all time.

[10][11] Normal civil airline operations resumed after VE Day and passengers increased from 50,000 in 1945 to 75,000 in 1948, remaining ahead of Manchester Airport.

Ironically, a few years earlier Valentin had been attributed with discovering the free-fall stable position still used by sports parachutists today for safe deployment.

[12] The original terminal building dating from the late 1930s, famously seen on early television footage with its terraces packed with Beatles fans, was left derelict until converted into a hotel, opening in 2001, preserving its Grade II listed Art Deco style.

[13] The former apron of the terminal is also listed and retained in its original condition, although it is no longer connected to the airport or subject to airside access control.

It is the home of several aircraft, including BAe Jetstream 41 prototype G-JMAC and Bristol Britannia G-ANCF, preserved by the Speke Aerodrome Heritage Group.

[citation needed] The two art-deco-style hangars that flank the terminal and apron have also been converted for new uses: one is now a David Lloyd leisure centre, the other the headquarters of the Very Group, called Skyways House.

A permanent exhibition of photographs of The Beatles in India, taken by Paul Saltzman in 1968 at the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, can be seen above the retail units in the departure lounge.

[23][24] Several problems beset the service, including technical issues with the aircraft, lengthy delays and low passenger numbers.

Airside improvements include additional retail units and a more advanced security area aiming at reducing waiting times, completed in autumn 2010.

The single terminal at Liverpool John Lennon Airport has a capacity of 7 million passengers a year[41] and consists of an arrivals and a departures hall, both connected within short walking distance of each other.

[citation needed] Captain Harold James Andrews was appointed as the first airport manager in July 1932, and he was effectively the first full-time professional co-ordinator for the whole project.

[43] Chris Preece, a former executive of British Aerospace, was airport director during much of the British Aerospace years of ownership, replaced by Rod Rufus and then Rod Hill, who brought in Direct Holidays, part of the MyTravel Group on a commercial deal which was to prove the market for easyJet.

[68] The nearest Merseyrail Northern Line station is Hunts Cross at 2.2 miles (3.5 km) away, where there are frequent services to Liverpool Central and Southport.

Regular bus services link the airport with surrounding urban areas, operated by Arriva North West and Merseytravel.

The original terminal building dating from the late 1930s, famously seen on 1960s television footage with its terraces packed with Beatles' fans, was part of the Marriott chain of hotels.

It is situated directly opposite the main terminal building, and is the second largest hotel serving the complex after the Crowne Plaza.

[69] The hotel was constructed as part of a £37 million development by Peel Holdings at John Lennon Airport (which also included a multi-storey car park).