Construction of a new municipal aerodrome at Barton near Eccles started in the Autumn of 1928. The grass airfield and one large hanger were completed by January 1930. By the summer of the same year, Imperial Airways was running scheduled services to London via Birmingham, with the flights running from Croydon airport in the evening and returning back to London the following morning.
By spring 1933 a control tower and associated wireless station was completed – it’s still in operation today and enjoys Grade ll listed status. In 1934, Railway Air Services started a Croydon-Barton-Belfast-Glasgow route, and gradually other airlines started operating through Barton, with routes to Liverpool, Blackpool and the Isle of Man.
However, World War ll intervened and Barton was requisitioned for the repair and overhaul of military aircraft, including Avro Ansons, Dominies, Fairey Battles, Fairey Fulmars, Hawker Hurricanes and F4U Corsairs. Only one scheduled air service was retained during the war – between Barton and Dublin – operated by Aer Lingus from 1940 to 1942.
Post-war, the Barton Aerodrome became home at various times to the Lancashire Aero Club, Manchester University Air Squadron and the No.2 Reserve Flying School. The latter flew Tiger Moths and Chipmunks, and offered training to volunteers who would later join the Royal Air Force.
In 2003, the land, hangers and buildings were purchased from Manchester City Council by a subsidiary of Peel Holdings Group. And in 2011 a new helicopter facility was opened, known as the City Heliport. New café and bar facilities were also built at this time and later refurbished in 2015, as part of a programme to open up the facility to a wider range of pilots, visitors and the general public. In 2020, the main building was extensively refurbished to become a bespoke ambulance operations base by Mersey Medical Services Ltd. This building was re-named Harrison House, in honour of Dr Reginald Harrison.
Over the years, the City Airport has featured in several films and TV programmes, including Brass, Mersey Beat, GBH and Island at War.