Gloucestershire Airport is once again being considered for sale by its joint owners, Gloucester City Council and Cheltenham Borough Council. The 375-acre Staverton airport faced a failed sale earlier this year after negotiations with Horizon Aero Group collapsed due to funding issues.
Initially set for sale at over £25 million, the deal fell through when Horizon Aero Group’s financial partner withdrew, leaving the councils to continue covering an annual operating deficit of approximately £2.7 million. Efforts are now underway to reduce costs and explore alternative business strategies.
Cheltenham Borough Council leader Rowena Hay has been vocal about her preference to sell the airport, describing it as one of the council’s biggest challenges. “I’m still very firmly of the view that we need to sell,” she said, affirming that discussions to relist the property are ongoing.
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Meanwhile, Gloucester City Council leader Jeremy Hilton has not dismissed the possibility of a future sale. He emphasized that no final decisions have been made between the two councils, and that they are currently exploring all options. “We are discussing options at the moment," Hilton said. “I’m not ruling anything out and want to carefully assess all details before making a decision. We’ve also appointed a new interim managing director, which is a positive step.”
Gloucestershire Airport, established in 1936 as Staverton Airport, replaced the earlier Down Hatherley Airfield and is now the UK’s busiest general aviation airport. Owned since 1993 by the joint councils through Gloucestershire Airport Limited, the airport topped the Civil Aviation Authority’s rankings for aircraft movements in 2023.
The facility hosts its own fire station and two extensive business parks totaling 700,000 square feet. It is also home to high-profile aviation companies like Safran Group, Babcock, and Weston Aviation, which contribute to the region’s economic activity.