Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide

Aerospace

Stobart Aviation hires Luke Hayhoe

Former BA CityFlyer General Manager Luke Hayhoe has joined Stobart Aviation as it works to boost relationships with its customer airlines at London Southend Airport, Carlisle Lake District Airport and Teesside International Airport.

Luke (above), whose aviation career spans more than two decades, working across a variety of areas, joined the business as Aviation Business Development Director on Monday 9th September.

Luke was most recently with BA as General Manager Commercial and Customer for BA CityFlyer.  During his time at BA CityFlyer, Luke led a team of more than 300 people, delivering profitable commercial growth at London City Airport as services expanded from just six routes to over 30.

Advertisement
Leonardo animated rectangle

Passenger numbers also grew at an impressive rate during Luke’s tenure - from 400,000 to nearly 3 million - amid the consistent delivery of exceptional customer experience on the ground and in the air.

Luke will be responsible for airline relationships, marketing and delivering passenger growth across the Stobart Aviation airports, with his main focus on London Southend Airport, London’s next big airport. 

London Southend is rapidly growing, with circa 50% more customers so far this summer and Ryanair and Loganair recently starting operations at the airport. easyJet has also based a fourth aircraft at London Southend Airport, serving more than 30 destinations.

Advertisement
ODU RT

The airport’s award-winning offering – consumer group Which? recently named London Southend the best airport in London for the sixth year in a row – will further grow with the addition of Wizz Air with flights taking off to Central Europe in October and November.

Commenting on his appointment, Luke Hayhoe, said “It’s really great to be joining Stobart Aviation at such an exciting time, the passenger growth is really impressive.  I’m looking forward to developing relationships with all of our customer airlines as well as welcoming new airlines so we can jointly add profitable growth, with a specific focus on delivering more than 5m passengers at London Southend Airport. London Southend has a fantastic customer proposition. It’s quick and easy to travel through, with excellent access from the heart of London with trains from London Liverpool Street in just over 50 minutes.”

Advertisement
Babcock LB Babcock LB
Gatwick appoints Mathieu Boutitie as Chief Technical Officer

Aerospace

Gatwick appoints Mathieu Boutitie as Chief Technical Officer

19 December 2025

London Gatwick has announced Mathieu Boutitie, currently Chief Technical Officer at Kansai Airports Group, as its new Chief Technical Officer, replacing Cedric Laurier who will rejoin VINCI Airports in Paris, with both appointments effective January 2026

Stansted gets green light to increase passenger limit

Aerospace

Stansted gets green light to increase passenger limit

17 December 2025

London Stansted has today secured planning approval from Uttlesford District Council to increase its annual passenger limit up to 51 million, unlocking the potential to deliver a wide range of consumer, economic and community benefits over the next 20 years.

Skyports completes move to Drone Operations HQ

Aerospace Space

Skyports completes move to Drone Operations HQ

17 December 2025

Skyports Drone Services (Skyports) has completed a move into its new flagship, purpose-built, Drone Operations Hub in Westcott Venture Park, equipping the company with a state-of-the-art centralised facility for its UK, European and global drone operations.

Midlands manufacturers launch VORS

Aerospace Defence

Midlands manufacturers launch VORS

17 December 2025

Three Midlands manufacturing and design specialists - outsourcing expert PP Control & Automation (PP C&A), electronics design and software developer ByteSnap Design and contract electronics manufacturer Kasdonare - have joined forces to launch VORS (Versatile Outsourcing in Resilient Systems).

Advertisement
ODU RT
SLG installs new solar array at Bridge of Weir

Aerospace

SLG installs new solar array at Bridge of Weir

17 December 2025

Scottish Leather Group (SLG) has switched on a new Solar PV array at its production facility in Bridge of Weir, Scotland.

Aviation Minister views engine inspection tech at GE Aerospace Filton

Aerospace Defence

Aviation Minister views engine inspection tech at GE Aerospace Filton

16 December 2025

Aviation Minister Keir Mather MP visited GE Aerospace’s Filton facility last week (Thursday 11th December) to see how UK-engineered artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are helping to transform aircraft engine inspection and reinforce Britain’s position as a global centre of advanced aviation services.

Advertisement
Leonardo animated rectangle
Advertisement
General Atomics LB