12 March 2026
The sale of Gloucestershire Airport (aka Staverton) has collapsed. The two councils who own the airport admitted today that they have been unable to reach agreement with prospective buyers Horizon Aero Group.
Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucester City Council said they are disappointed that they were unable to accept the terms from Horizon Aero Group, which had moved significantly away from the original bid prospectus.
The councils’ statement said they will continue to maintain close contact with operators and tenants to provide reassurance and keep them updated as work continues on alternative options.
Gloucestershire Airport is home to many aviation businesses including flight schools
Councillor Rowena Hay, leader at Cheltenham Borough Council said, “It is our duty to deliver best value on the sale of the airport and of course after a long period of due diligence, we are disappointed that we couldn’t reach an agreement to deliver that and proceed with the sale to Horizon Aero Group.
“We fully appreciate the concern this will cause, particularly for those employed at the airport who will have worked hard to support the sale process.
“As we move forward, we are committed to continued engagement with staff, operators, tenants and key stakeholders to discuss the future and reach a positive outcome for Gloucestershire Airport.”
Gloucestershire Airport
FLYER asked Horizon Aero Group for a comment. They sent us this statement:
“Horizon Aero Group is naturally disappointed that the proposed acquisition of Gloucestershire Airport did not proceed to completion. A substantial amount of work was undertaken over many months, and we would like to acknowledge that the Councils, together with all other parties involved, worked in good faith and made considerable efforts to try to achieve a successful outcome.
“Unfortunately, despite those efforts, it was not possible to finalise terms that would allow the transaction to complete.
“Throughout the process, Horizon Aero Group remained committed to securing a positive, sustainable and commercially viable future for Gloucestershire Airport, with full respect for its heritage, its operational importance, and its role within the wider General Aviation community. That view remains unchanged.
“We are grateful to everyone who contributed their time, effort and professionalism during the process, and we wish the airport, its stakeholders and the wider GA community every success for the future. If circumstances were to evolve at a later stage, Horizon Aero Group would welcome the opportunity to engage again where there is a clear basis to deliver a viable and enduring outcome for the airport.”
Gloucestershire Airport tower
The leader of Gloucester City Council, Councillor Jeremy Hilton, added, “This news is clearly disappointing as the combination of a clear commitment to flying by Horizon, and the continued operation of aviation based businesses, would have provided a strong future for the site.
“I fully recognise that people hold different views about the potential uses of the site, but our responsibility is to take a measured, evidence‑based approach that leads to the right outcome for the long term.”
Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucester City Council, as joint shareholders, have today confirmed that they have been unable to reach an agreement with Horizon Aero Group on the sale of Gloucestershire Airport. pic.twitter.com/mfQCAyCA6Q
— Cheltenham Borough Council (@CheltenhamBC) March 12, 2026
