<Tr> <Th> Movements change 15--16 </Th> <Td> 11.7% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Sources: UK AIP at NATS Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority </Td> </Tr> <P> Liverpool John Lennon Airport (IATA: LPL, ICAO: EGGP) is an international airport serving North West England . On the outbreak of World War II, the airport was operated by the RAF and known as RAF Speke . The airport is within the City of Liverpool on the banks of the estuary of the River Mersey some 6.5 nautical miles (12.0 km; 7.5 mi) south east of the city centre . Originally called Speke Airport, since 2001; the airport has been renamed after Liverpudlian musician John Lennon of The Beatles . Scheduled domestic, European and North African services are operated from the airport . </P> <P> Between 1997 - 2007, the facility was one of Europe's fastest growing airports, increasing annual passenger numbers from 689,468 in 1997 to 5,470,000 in 2007 . Despite passenger numbers having decreased to just over 4,800,000 in 2016, this was an 11.1% increase on the 2015 total, making it the twelfth busiest airport in the UK . The CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence Number is P735, that allows flights for the public transport of passengers and flying instruction . </P>

In 2001 the city of liverpool named its airport after which person