AIRPORT bosses have confirmed that Carlisle Lake District Airport is amongst their assets up for sale. 

This time last year, the group behind the airport, which has been dormant since 2020, said plans of a 'short to medium term strategy' is to get planes back up in the air as the business looks to recover from the fallout associated with the pandemic.

However, the aviation and renewables group, Esken, revealed in June on its yearly report financial concerns with a plan to exit from 'non-core assets' to help support remaining operations.

The airport five miles north of Carlisle is one of their 'non-core' assets.

David Shearer, executive chairman of Esken said: "Over the last financial year, we secured a successful debt fund raising in difficult market conditions, completed a strategic review of our operating businesses, and are now progressing with our plans to sell our core operating businesses and residual non-core assets through a managed disposal process with a view to returning any remaining value to Esken shareholders."

A spokesperson confirmed that the company will look into finding a buyer to develop the opportunity at Carlisle Lake District Airport.

READ MORE: Cumbria Chamber of Commerce say airport money could be spent better elsewhere

In the report published by Esken, formerly known as Stobart Group Limited, it stated the group has completed a strategic review of its operating businesses and is also 'actively progressing a managed sale process of its core renewables and aviation businesses'.

“Esken has started the process for the sale of London Southend Airport, its key strategic airport asset within the Aviation business," it said.

According to the BBC, London Southend in Essex, was bought by Esken in 2008 for £21m.

The sale of Esken Renewables is also at an advanced stage, the report states.

In 2021, hopes were raised that Carlisle's Lake District Airport would potentially be re-opening with a takeover planned by The Isle of Man-based company Ettyl Limited - which signed agreements for the acquisition for £15m, as reported on the London Stock Exchange.

However following the announcement of Stobart Air's liquidation, the deal collapsed.