It was Air Atlantique as airport owners who brought Thomsonfly to Coventry. They found that they were unable to deliver what they had promised Thomsonfly, possibly partly lack of expertise and partly lack of money. TUI bought the airport to rescue the launch of their new airline. What they achieved in three months was remarkable including setting up the little terminal and completely resurfacing the runway. Unfortunately Atlantiques major achievement was peeing off the Planning Authority which later had disastrous consequences. They had allegedly breached the rules on permitted development rights.