FILTON Airfield will stop operating in December, owner BAE Systems has confirmed.

Flights to and from the airfield near Bristol will cease on Friday, December 21 before the final closure on Monday, December 31.

A BAE spokesman said: "Filton Airfield will be closed at the end of 2012 following a comprehensive assessment over a five-year period and an independent review; both of which concluded that the airfield was not economically viable.

"The decision to close was made in consultation with airfield stakeholders including Airbus whose business will not be disadvantaged by the airfield's closure. BAE Systems is committed to developing the airfield for business and residential use and is in discussion regarding support for a new museum at Filton to house Concorde Alpha-Foxtrot and Bristol's aviation heritage."

Filton saw the first UK test flight of the Concorde prototype in 1969 and has been running for than a century.

In 2003, the final Concorde to fly travelled from Heathrow to Filton. The jet is still parked alongside the runway.

The airfield also saw the maiden flight of the Bristol Brabazon airliner in 1949.

It is now earmarked for development and more than 2,500 homes are set to be built on the airfield.

It is believed 19 people will lose their jobs when the site closes with up to 60 contractors affected.

A Save Filton Airfield spokesman said: "As BAE and South Gloucestershire Council force them to stop using the airfield and suffer increased costs and reduced connectivity, we can only hope that Airbus manufacturing and their engineers do not move elsewhere."

Despite the closure, the Great Western Ambulance Service will continue to operate its rescue helicopter from Filton Airfield.