Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Morlaix

In Morlaix, aviation tradition was born at the start of the century: the first aviation meeting is organized above Langolvas racecourse in 1911. Nevertheless, it is necessary to wait until 1939 for the city to be equipped with an airfield on the initiative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry's directors who realise the importance of air transport for the region's development.  The equipment is set up at the edge of Morlaix on the Ploujean plateau: it consists of a 33-hectare lawn, a terminal and a 20 m x 30 m warehouse.
 
The Lindbergh stopover

The same year as the opening, the airfield welcomes a legendary personality: Charles Lindbergh, whose signature is kept in the visitors' book. Under the occupation, this tool is requisitioned by the Germans who turn it into a military airfield.  The Luftwaffe builds a 1,200 m x 60 m concrete runway, taxiways and access ways and numerous warehouses and buildings for technical use.

At that time, Morlaix benefits from a rare, quality facility in the provinces, but upon their departure, the soldiers destroy all of the facilities; only the damaged runway remains standing.  After a period of sluggishness, due to a lack of infrastructures, the CCI obtains an extension of the airfield from the State in 1952. Its surface area is then brought to 85 hectares which is still its limit nowadays.  Initially devoted to non-commercial activity, due to the lack of specific facilities, the airport takes advantage of the restoration of its runway to launch out into the freight and passenger charter traffic.

Brit Air's craddle, a centre for aeronautical maintenance and training

In 1972, a regular route from Morlaix to Paris via Saint-Brieuc is put into place. However, the endeavour is short-lived.  Punctually, charter planes are freighted for the economic policy-makers and in 1973, a first company is established for this activity: Bretagne Air International. This company takes off once and for all in 1977 when Morlaix CCI buys into 67% of the company: the Brit Air saga begins...

A route to London is launched in 1979, before being transferred to Brest-Guipavas airport in 1987, in a better position to respond to the success of this air connection. Having experienced spectacular development, Brit Air moves even closer to Air France, which eventually acquires the Breton company.  Brit Air has kept its head office and technical maintenance centre in Morlaix. Relying on the growth of the company, the airport platform of Morlaix gradually specializes in aeronautical maintenance and training of crews, fields in which its expertise has henceforth been recognized.  Each year, the ICARE Centre, a specialized Brit Air subsidiary, welcomes trainees from every continent. In 2006, there were 4,000 of them.

To solidify the aeronautical training offer on the site, the CCI contributed with the Department of Education and the Regional Council's stakeholders to the setting up of a BTS [technical college degree] in aeronautical maintenance on the airport site.