1932-1939

1932

The site of Exeter Airfield is chosen for a new Municipal Airport, one of the first of its kind.

1933-1936

Planning applications and legal proceedings to acquire the necessary land from Waterslade Farm.

1937

Exeter Airfield initially opened 31 May, Exeter airfield is formally opened on the 20 July by the Air Minister, Sir Kingsley Wood. Devon Air Day took place Sat 24 July at Plymouth, Haldon and Exeter Aerodromes.

1938

A purpose built terminal building was opened by Sir Kingsley Wood, Minister of Aviation on 30th July 1938.

1939

Branch of the Civil Air Guard formed at Exeter Airfield and civil schedules withdrawn shortly after outbreak of war, RAF acquired the Airfield. 

1940-1950

1940

June - gunnery Research Unit, RAF - 87 Sqn, 213 Sqn, 601 Sqn.

1941

66 Sqn, Polish 307 Sqn. 317 Squadron, 317 Sqn, 247 Sqn.

1942

Polish 307 Sqn, Czech 310 Sqn, 16 Sqn, 308 Sqn, 286 Sqn,  421 Sqn, 257 Sqn, 19 Sqn, 536 Sqn, 21 Sqn.

1943

Polish 307 Sqn, 834 Sqn, 841 Sqn, 123 Sqn, 125 Sqn, 131 Sqn, 165 Sqn, 616 Sqn, 266 Sqn, 406 Sqn.

1944

440th Troop Carrier Group, 610 Sqn, 282 Sqn, 275 Sqn, 26 Sqn.
1945 - 691 Sqn, 222 Sqn.

1945

691 Sqn, 222 Sqn.

1946

January -Handed over to the Ministry of Civilian Aviation,  April - 222 Sqn  First jets with Meteors, June – 84 Gliding School,  Also 151 Squadron with Mosquitos.

1947

Exeter Airport is transferred to ministry of Civil Aviation, The Exeter Aero Club also returned.

1948

The airport started to attract engineering and other facilities associated with flying, and in February 1948, the small aircraft manufacturing company, Chrislea rolled out the first of seventeen Super Ace and Skyjeep variants.

1949

1 March two service training units formed managed by Exeter Airport Ltd. No 27 Reserve Centre (under 62  Group) and parented by 238 MU for equipment. 6 Tiger Moths and a Link Trainer arrived on 27 April for the formation of No. 10 Reserve Flying Training School.

1950

February - 27 Reserve Centre and 10 Reserve Flying School amalgamated. 

1951-1960

1951

The Civilian Anti- Aircraft Co-operation Unit often referred to as the CAACU was formed in March 1951 for  target towing, testing and instrument calibration for the RAF, Army and Navy. Exeter Festival of Britain Air Display Sat 25 August.

1952

Jersey Airlines started the first post-war scheduled service, to the Channel Islands; this was not the same  company that operated pre-war. Exeter Air Display on behalf of the Cathedral Preservation Fund Sat 10 May.

1953

No. 3 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit managed by Exeter Airport Ltd established.

1954

Reserve Flying School disbanded. Target Towing activities with Beaufighters TT.10S and Mosquitos TT.35s. No. 3 CAACU merged with No. 4 CAACU.

1955

C. E. Harper Aircraft Ltd changed to Harper Engineering and Electronics. 1 Sept - 624 Gliding School (ex 84 GS) arrived 

1956

Fire Service equipment comprised 1 tender 300 gallons of water, 1 tender 300 gallons of water, 100 gallons  of foam and 24lb of carbon dioxide, 1 tender 300 gallons of water, 1 tender 1,440lb of carbon dioxide, 1 light rescue tender.

1957

Vampire T.11s based at Exeter.

1958

Ministry of Defence acquires Exeter Airport. 4 AEF established. Exeter Air Display Sat 28 June.

1959

2 Sept ownership changed again to Exeter Airport Ltd.

1960

Number 4 AEF Exeter, flew Chipmunks to Plymouth Roborough airport for the first time. Exeter Air Display  Sat 9 July.

1961-1970

1961

F &J Mann Airways Ltd began operations as Westpoint Aviation with Dakotas. Exeter Air Display Sat 24 June.

1962

Jersey Airlines became part of the British United Airways group. Exeter Air Display Sat 23 June.

1963

Westpoint Aviation renamed British Westpoint Airlines Ltd, first scheduled service on 1 April from RAF St Mawgan via Exeter Airport using a Dakota. The last flight of CAACU was 9 May. Exeter Air Day Sat 22 June.

1964

Air Holdings Ltd gain ownership of the airport. Exeter Air Day Sat 20 June.

1965

British Westpoint Airlines Ltd purchased by Metropolitan Air Movements which became a holding company  until put into liquidation the following year. Exeter Air Day celebrating 25th Anniversary of the Battle of  Britain Sat 26 June.

1966

Metropolitan Air Movements put into Liquidation. Exeter Air Day Sat 25 June.

1967

Ownership changed to Cope Allman International. Exeter Air Day Sat 24 June.

1968

Gloster Meteors replaced with Canberras. Exeter Jubilee Air Day celebrating 50th Anniversary of the Royal  Air Force and 25th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force Association, Sat 29 June. 

1969

Brymon Airways Ltd formed at Thruxton. Exeter Air Day Sat 28 June.

1970

The South West Aviation fleet comprised of a 2 x DC3 Dakotas, a Piper Aztec and a Shorts Skyvan. Exeter Air Day Sat 27 June.

1971-1980

1971

Exeter Flying Club officially formed on 30 March. Exeter Air Day Sat 26 June. On the 31 December, Canberra target towing aircraft of CAACU were moved to 7 Squadron at RAF St Mawgan. British Island Airways (BIA) operated from Exeter.

1972

A consortium of Devon County Council, Exeter City Council and Torbay Council purchased the airport from the government. Exeter Air Day Sat 24 June. BIA supported the Hughie Green Opportunity Flights Scheme for Air Cadets.

1973

British European Airways/British Airways Vanguards used on charter services to Austria in May. Brymon Airways operated services to the Isles of Scilly. Exeter Air Day Sat 7 July.

1974

Local government reorganisation saw Devon County Council take full responsibility, with the airport managed under contract by Exeter Airport Ltd. Exeter Air Day was held on Saturday 6 July.

1975

Exeter Air Day was held on Saturday 5 July.

1976

Exeter Air Day was held on Saturday 3 July.

1977

Exeter Air Day was held on Saturday 2 July.

1978

The main runway was strengthened to take heavier aircraft, followed in 1981 when an improvement program for the terminal buildings and a more modern air traffic control and instrument landing system was installed. Air Day 8 July.

1979

Exeter Air Day was held on Saturday 7 July.

1980

Exeter Air Day was held on Saturday 12 July, Vickers Viscount crashes on approach to Exeter in a field a Ottery St Mary July 1980.

1981-1990

1981

The main runway 08/26 was extended and strengthened to allow for increasing airport growth. The terminal building was upgraded costing three million pounds and included a new control tower, extended passenger  lounges, bar, restaurant, buffet and a viewing balcony.  Exeter Air Day was held on Saturday 11 July.

1982

Exeter Air Day was held on Saturday 10 July.

1983

A new £3 million terminal and control tower at Exeter Airport was officially opened on 13th July 1981 by Sir Henry Marking. The 25th Exeter Air Day took place on the 25 June.

1984

The 450 acre site owned by Devon County Council was managed by British Airports International Ltd until 1987.  A new radar system was installed. The system was the Plessey Watchman which was the latest literally off the drawing board.

1985

Jersey European Airways moved its operations from the Channel Islands to Exeter, the airline would eventually evolve into Flybe.

1986

JEA acquired larger aircraft including a Shorts 360 and HS/BAe 748. Exeter Air Day 2 & 3 August.

1987

Exeter Air Day was held on 1, 2, 3 August. Passenger traffic through the new terminal had grown by 40% since  its opening.

1988

50th Anniversary of Exeter Airport, Concorde arrived for the first of a series of annual visits to take passengers for  a flight over the Bay of Biscay. Avro Lancaster given major overall at Exeter. Air Day held over 27, 28, 29 August.

1989

Exeter Air Day held on the North side of the airfield for the first time 26, 27, 28 August. Lomas Helicopters was set up by David Lomas in operating from Exeter Airport.

1990

Beech D17S Staggerwing, N18028 crashed on landing when one of the main wheels collapsed. The flight was from Cardiff. Mini Airshow held with Concorde and helicopter trips. A Concorde ticket costed £179. One of the Airport Fire Service appliances ran away down the ramp crashing into a Piper Seneca which was pushed into a Cessna 172 of the EFC. Nobody was hurt.

1991-2000

1991

Airport ownership by Exeter & Devon Airport Ltd.   Capital Air Ambulance based at Exeter. The Red Arrows and Concorde visited 26 August. The new Fire Station opened 8 May.

1992

BAC Lightning military registration XP693 (now registered as G-FSIX) arrived at Exeter airport.

1993

JEA airline was the first in the UK to offer two classes on domestic flights with the introduction of its business class.

1994

Concorde from British Airways operated sub sonic and supersonic flight experiences from Exeter.

1995

Chipmunks from No.4 Air Experience Flight was disbanded in December 1995.

1996

JEA owned fleet that was no longer operated by JEA but leased to third parties along with a large GA fleet. It was operated as a division of JEA until 1996 when Iscavia (Isca being the Roman name for Exeter) was created.

1997

Britannia Airways launched a service to Florida. Number 4 AEF disbanded.

1998

Britannia Airways launched a service to Menorca, the sixtieth anniversary of the opening, a new terminal building was inaugurated. As part of the 60th Anniversary events Classic Jets Day was held on 8 June and Concorde visited on the 11 and 12 July.

1999

The new arrivals building was opened by the Princess Royal.  Aviation South West Flight Training founded.

2000

Concorde , G-BOAA, completes another series of subsonic and supersonic flight experiences from Exeter. 10 days later in Paris, the Air France Concorde,  F-BTSC crashed killing 113 souls.

2001-2010

2001

Antonov 12, LZ-SFK crashed on landing after wheels collapsed.

2002

British European became Flybe.

2003

A new £950,000 departure lounge opened.

2004

First Boeing 747 to land at Exeter Airport for storage.

2005

New Terminal building frontage opens in Spring 2005.

2006

Devon County Council's announcement to re-launch the airport sale was made in the Financial Times on Tuesday 4 April

2007

After an abortive attempt in 2005 to sell at least 75% of its holding in the airport, Devon County Council sold Exeter International Airport to the Regional and City Airports (Exeter) Ltd, which is owned by Balfour Beatty  for £60 million in January.  First Choice established a permanent base at the airport.

2008

The South West Airfield Heritage Trust planned a larger than life, bronze sculpture of RAF fighter pilots from World War Two to be displayed outside the main terminal. Exeter had the 10th largest air freight in the UK in 2008.

2009

In September 2009 Flybe announced its successful bid for £4.3 million financial backing for a Training Academy.

2010

On 20 July 2010, Flybe placed an order for 35 Embraer 175 aircraft.

2011-2020

2011

Onur Air is the largest private airline company in Turkey and they commenced flights with their 180 seat Airbus A320 aircraft  operating to and from Exeter on Saturdays from 23 July until 8 October 2011.

2012

Devon and Cornwall Police and the Devon Air Ambulance move into new joint airport base on the north side.

2013

Passenger numbers up on 2012 by 8%.

2014

Flybe launch London City route on the 27 October.

2015

Airline TUI announce a new summer route to Rhodes from Exeter.

2016

Passenger numbers up by 13% compared to 2015. In November night flying commenced for the Devon Air Ambulance.

2017

Fourth year in a row for Passenger numbers growth at just below 850,000 per annum.

2018

RAF100 celebrated at the airport with various static aircraft and a presentation in the terminal building, Flybe staged a two-day open hanger tour for selected aviation enthusiasts.

2019

2019 - Construction is underway for a new boarding gate area for Ryanair flights,  2 April new Ryanair flights to Malta, Malaga and Naples, Exeter highly rated in UK airport survey.

2020

Flybe went into administration, Covid -19 Lockdown, Loganair and Blue Islands operating from Exeter, Aer Lingus Regional  operating 4 weekly return flights from 28 August, Reduced Operating hours due to Covid.

2021-2026

2021

March - Exeter reduced to just one flight per day by Air Lingus to Belfast. TUI announce they are maintaining flights from Exeter 2021 -2022, following the COVID challenges.

2022

March - Exeter reduced to just one flight per day by Air Lingus to Belfast. TUI announce they are maintaining flights from Exeter 2021 -2022, following the COVID challenges.

2023

2023 - Airport expands its reach to Portugal with new Ryanair flights to Faro,  Airport closed due to flash floods affecting terminal building 17 September,

2024

Exeter Airport Managing Director joins Exeter College Board, Exeter Airport among first projects for Hydrogen Challenge announced by aviation regulator. D-Day 80 display held in the Terminal building 5/6 June hosted by Jerry Bird and Chris Wiseman.

2025

KLM flights due to start end of March, West Atlantic postal flights to terminate end of March, A second TUI Airways aircraft has touched down at Exeter Airport - 22 May 2025, Regional & City Airports (“RCA”), the operator of Exeter, Bournemouth and Norwich Airports and owner and operator of XLR Executive Jet operator Centres, announced that it has entered into an agreement to partner with global alternative asset
 manager, ICG, after  more than a decade of successful collaboration with Rigby Group - August. Loganair commence flights to Manchester - 26 Oct. 

2026

Aurigny expands Exeter-Guernsey route with five weekly summer services - January,