ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on small airports through an aeromobilities approach, as well as archive studies and qualitative interviews, to analyse the historical ‘rise and fall’ of a small airport in the northern periphery of Denmark: Thisted Airport. The chapter shows how a local group of ‘crazy fliers’, business interests and aviation enthusiasts managed to transfer their air-mindedness and passion for flying into the establishment of Thisted Airport. In a remarkably short time, they formed a strong network of airport interests, which against all odds changed the local and national decision-makers’ attitudes towards favouring the establishment of an airport in the area. The establishment of the airport has not at any time been driven by the national government – strategically or planning wise. From a place management perspective, the chapter argues that without this network’s air-mindedness, aviation knowledge and skill, network relations, persistence, creativity, innovation, articulation, tactics and sometimes manipulation, the airport at Thisted would never have been built. This offers us some important insights on how humans can influence the relation between mobilities and places.
