Back on the market: Gloucestershire Airport is relisted for sale

Gloucestershire Airport is back up for sale after a £25 million deal fell through.

Gloucester City Council and Cheltenham Borough Council, the joint owners of Gloucestershire Airport, first appointed Savills in 2024 to oversee the sale of the loss-making hub.

The news of the relisting comes just three months after negotiations with Horizon Aero Group fell through in March. Authorities said they could not accept the terms of the sale and had received a “number of approaches” from other interested parties.

New owner sought for Gloucestershire Airport

Both councils agree that the long-term interests of the airport will be best served by securing a new owner who can deliver investment and sustainable growth.

Councillor Rowena Hay, Leader of Cheltenham Borough Council, said attracting the right partner was a “key priority” for the renewed sale process.

She was joined by Councillor Jeremy Hilton, leader of Gloucester City Council, who described the airport as a “vital economic and aviation asset for the region.”

Recent weeks have seen considerable interest from potential investors, according to Hilton. He said, “Now is the right time to put the airport back on the market.”

He also conceded that the relisting is an opportunity to build on the previous experience. “We will engage with investors who share our vision for growth and continued aviation at Staverton.”

One of the UK’s busiest general aviation hubs

The airport, which was established in 1930, is located between Gloucester and Cheltenham, adjacent to the M5 motorway.  It sits on a 350-acre site with planning consent for an additional 320,000 sq. ft. of business space and features two tarmac runways and advanced navigation systems.

Between 2021 and 2023, the airport received nearly £10 million of capital investment from the Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, Gloucester City and Cheltenham Borough Councils to fund runway and associated infrastructure upgrades. In 2023, it accommodated over 66,000 aircraft movements, with the Civil Aviation Authority ranking it the UK’s busiest General Aviation airport.

As a general aviation hub, Gloucestershire Airport is home to various tenants, including flight training schools, charter and leisure operators, as well as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities. Castle Air Academy, Bristol Aero Club, Weston Aviation, the Little Jet Company, Global ATS and Heli Air Gloucester are among some of the organisations based at or operating from the airport.

How often do airports go up for sale?

When the airport was listed originally, Ian Simpson, Head of Leisure and Trading at Savills, commented that it was “extremely rare for an airport to come to market, especially in such a prime location.”

He also noted that while the councils have done an “excellent job”, it is now time for a new owner to seize the business opportunity and build on the airport’s historic success. “There is huge potential for further airport-related and ancillary development.”

Brian Rawlings, the airport’s Managing Director, said the airport will remain fully operational as it seeks another buyer. “The goal of the senior leadership team is to support the process being managed by the joint shareholders to ensure that the airport’s long-term future is secured for staff, operators, tenants and the local community,” he concluded.