Councillors Back Plans To Secure Future Of Carlisle Lake District Airport
Plans to secure the future of Carlisle Lake District Airport have received fresh backing from councillors, renewing hopes of commercial flights returning.
The amended motion was approved at a Cumberland Council meeting at The Civic Centre on Tuesday, November 3. It followed a proposal from Councillor Robert Betton, an Independent representative for Botcherby, who called for renewed efforts to bring commercial passenger services back to the area. Councillor Chris Wills, representing Upperby for the Liberal Democrats, seconded the proposal. The motion received broad support from councillors, although members raised differing views about the airport's future role and environmental implications.
The original proposal was intended to recognise the airport's potential as an important regional asset. Councillor Betton stressed that the motion did not require the council to guarantee the return of flights or commit to major expenditure. Instead, it called for discussions with the airport's owners and relevant partners to establish what could realistically be achieved. The approach was presented as a way of keeping the possibility of commercial services open while exploring the airport's wider economic contribution.
Council leader Councillor Mark Fryer proposed an amended version on behalf of the Labour group, describing it as a pragmatic way forward. Councillor Betton accepted the changes, allowing the motion to proceed. Speaking after the decision, Councillor Fryer said a commercial airport could benefit the area, but acknowledged that the difficult economic climate would make progress challenging. He said cooperation between authorities and regional organisations would be necessary to identify opportunities and develop a realistic plan.
The amended motion commits the council to reaffirming its support for the long-term restoration of sustainable commercial passenger services at the airport. It also calls for the airport's future role and development potential to be considered through the council's involvement in implementing and reviewing the Local Transport Plan. This would provide an opportunity to examine how the site could contribute to transport links, regional investment and economic activity across the wider area.
Cumberland Council is expected to work with the mayoral combined authority, Westmorland and Furness Council, Scottish Borders Council, the Borderlands Partnership and the airport operator. The motion also supports engagement with other relevant partners to explore opportunities for investment and improved connectivity. Councillors believe a coordinated regional approach will be important because the potential benefits of the airport could extend beyond Carlisle and Cumberland, reaching communities and businesses across neighbouring parts of northern England and southern Scotland.
Councillor Wills said the airport remained a strategic asset with the potential to support employment, investment and economic growth. He supported exploring its future without making expensive commitments or creating unrealistic expectations about when flights might return. His comments reflected the position that the council should continue to consider the airport's possibilities while recognising the financial and practical obstacles involved in restoring scheduled passenger services.
Not all councillors agreed with the direction of the proposal. Councillor Jill Perry, a Green Party representative for Bothel and Wharrels, questioned whether renewed support for commercial aviation would help the council achieve its net zero target. She argued that reaching the target sooner rather than later was important. Her comments highlighted the environmental considerations that will remain part of any future discussion about the airport's development and the potential return of passenger flights.
Carlisle Lake District Airport has a long history as part of the area's transport and economic infrastructure. The site was originally established as RAF Crosby-on-Eden in 1941 and has played a role in the region for more than 80 years. Over time, it has supported aviation activity and provided passenger connections to destinations including London, Belfast, Dublin and the Isle of Man. Its supporters argue that restoring commercial services could help strengthen the area's links with other parts of the UK and beyond.
Scheduled commercial services returned in 2019 following significant investment and the opening of a new passenger terminal. Their return came after a 26-year absence, raising expectations that the airport could once again provide regular passenger connections. However, services stopped in March 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and have not subsequently been reinstated. The gap since their suspension has left the airport's long-term passenger role uncertain, despite continued interest from local representatives in finding a sustainable way forward.
The airport came under the control of the AW Jenkinson Group in May 2024. The group committed to maintaining the site as an aerodrome and investing in its future development. Cumberland Council remains the landlord of the airport site, giving the authority an important role in discussions about its long-term prospects. The council's continued involvement means that decisions about transport planning, partnership working and the site's potential economic contribution will remain relevant to its future.
Councillor Fryer said the council would also seek to raise the issue with the Government. He indicated that working together with neighbouring authorities and regional organisations could help identify a practical route towards development. The council leader's comments suggest that any progress will depend on more than a decision by Cumberland Council alone, with funding, cooperation and the airport operator's plans likely to be important considerations in determining what can be achieved.
The approved motion does not confirm a timetable for the return of flights, nor does it announce a funding package or guarantee that commercial services will resume. Instead, it establishes renewed political support for exploring the airport's future through regional transport planning and partnership discussions. For residents, businesses and organisations across the area, the decision represents another attempt to keep the prospect of passenger flights alive while balancing economic ambitions, financial realities and environmental concerns.
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