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UK's largest RAF station and primary air transport hub.
Opened
1937
Location
Carterton, United Kingdom
RAF Brize Norton is a Royal Air Force station located near Carterton in Oxfordshire, England. It serves as the UK's largest military airbase and is the primary hub for the RAF's strategic air transport and air-to-air refuelling operations.
The station is home to several RAF squadrons operating the Airbus A400M Atlas, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, and Voyager KC2/KC3 aircraft. It handles military personnel movements, humanitarian operations, and logistical support missions worldwide.
Brize Norton also operates scheduled military passenger services to UK Overseas Territories including the Falkland Islands, Ascension Island, and Cyprus, serving eligible military personnel, dependants, and authorised civilians.
Terminals
The station has a dedicated passenger terminal facility serving military and authorised travellers on scheduled and charter military flights.
Getting to & from
RAF Brize Norton is accessible by road via the A4095, with bus connections to Oxford and local towns; there is no direct rail link to the base.
Airlines here
No commercial airlines operate here; flights are operated exclusively by the Royal Air Force and contracted military charter services.
Notable facts
- ›RAF Brize Norton is the largest RAF station in the United Kingdom by personnel.
- ›It is home to the RAF's entire strategic air transport fleet, including C-17 and A400M aircraft.
- ›The Voyager tanker aircraft based here provide in-flight refuelling for fast jets and other aircraft.
- ›Scheduled military flights operate from Brize Norton to the Falkland Islands, Ascension Island, and RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
- ›The airfield was used by the USAF during and after World War II before returning to full RAF control.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
