Talks over airport's commercial flights return

Commercial flights could return to Carlisle Lake District Airport following council talks with potential buyers

Commercial flights could return to an airport after a council revealed it had been in discussion with a number of interested parties.

Cumberland Council leader Mark Fryer said there was "significant interest" from "at least two" parties in buying Carlisle Lake District Airport.

There have been no commercial flights to and from the airport since 2019, when Loganair operated services from Carlisle to Dublin, Belfast and London Southend.

Mr Fryer said the Labour-led council remained the landlord of the site and added: "The new owners have confirmed that the site will continue as an aerodrome."

The comments were in response to a question asked during a meeting of the full council on Tuesday, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Lib Dem councillor Tim Pickstone directed his question towards Mr Fryer.

He said: "Could the leader inform members what discussions have been with the new owners of Carlisle Lake District Airport about maintaining the potential for a return of commercial aviation and whether the council will continue to work with the owners to secure the return of flights to Carlisle?"

Mr Fryer said: "There was some significant interest in it, not just one set of buyers, but at least two. We have been talking to all parties during that time."

Mr Pickstone asked whether Mr Fryer agreed that bringing commercial aviation back to the airport would be a significant boost to the local economy, and that he would continue to use every opportunity to work with both the airport, airlines and business partners to bring back flights to the city.

His immediate response was "absolutely", and added that the previous owners had been spoken with at length but, post-Covid, the market had become volatile, particularly destinations including Southend, the North East and Leeds, but added: "We are open for business aren’t we?"