NEWS & DEVELOPMENT

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LATEST DEVELOPMENT PLANS

Forecast Aircraft Types

Carlisle Lake District Airport Brochure

STOBART TAKES TO THE SKIES

Haughey Airports Limited, the company which operated Carlisle Airport, was acquired by WA Developments International in a multi-million pound deal on 7 April 2006.

Now under the management of Stobart Air Limited, Carlisle Airport is in a prime location ideally placed to capitalise on local business travel and re-blossoming tourism to the Lake District, Cumbria and Southern Scotland.  Neither Carlisle or the Lake District are conveniently served by air transport with the result that business air travel has been restricted along with potential airborne tourists who wish to make a ‘flying visit’ to the Lakes, Hadrian’s Wall or the wider Borders Area.

In a time when there is ever-increasing pressure on the major airports, the strategic location of Carlisle airport, which is situated only 11 kms east of Carlisle and the M6, offers excellent potential for development of conventional scheduled, low cost, and charter services to Southern England, Europe and beyond.

Two options were originally identified by Eddie Stobart Chairman, Andrew Tinkler, to bring the Crosby-on-Eden Airfield up to international standards. One option was to strengthen and resurface the existing runway which currently has a weight restriction of 12.5 tonnes.  The second option was to build a second runway, which would run parallel to the first.  After consultation with historical and environmental agencies, and with a view to the future development potential the new runway has been identified as the preferred option.  In addition to upgrading the runway, plans include a multi-million pound departure and arrival terminal and control tower which will have access from the A689.

In addition to the development of the airport for commercial passenger traffic, it is also projected that the additional infrastructure will allow WA Developments to expand their operation into air freight and distribution.  Meetings with potential operators are due to take place in the near future.  The plans are at an early stage and require extensive consultation with local residents, City and County Planners and various Government Authorities.

The planned infrastructure will require an investment of approximately £20 million, but Mr Tinkler speaks positively over the development and “Unlocking the Airport’s potential”. 
He says “We firmly believe that the Airport, with the right investment, can become a Gateway to the Lake District and a transport hub for Businesses”.  With his business acumen, entrepreneurial flair and attitude of “What we say is what we do”,  Carlisle Airport looks set to take off.