THE new owners of Carlisle Lake District Airport have reaffirmed their commitment to investing £5m into the site, with options currently being explored as the best way to bring 'long-term economic purpose' and 'sustainable jobs' to the airport. 

In May, the Cumberland News revealed the airport had been brought under the control of the A.W. Jenkinson Group, which handles more than 4 million tonnes of timber co-products every year as well as being one of the UK's largest providers of haulage, distribution, and logistics services.

Former owner, the Esken Group, previously known as Stobart Group Limited, originally had plans to reintroduce flights at the airport but entered administration in March after a planned restructuring strategy turned out to be 'commercially unviable' and was abandoned.

However, Jenkinson's takeover reinstates hope for the airport's future, with discussions ongoing for the firm's long-term strategies.

Whilst welcoming the planned investment, the managing director of Cumbria's Chamber of Commerce, Suzanne Caldwell, underlined the importance of having 'realistic expectations' about what A.W Jenkinson can deliver. 

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“There’s no immediate prospect of commercial flights, and I think that has to be a longer-term goal, but the good news is that Jenkinson’s have bought the airport, the airport is going to be there, it’s going to be invested in and that does leave the door open for the future," she said. 

Mike Morris, a former member of the original airport consultation committee and current aviation tenant based at the airport, said: "Clearly AWJ can see the potential and no doubt has plans to develop the site.  

"Non-aviation-based commercial activity in and around CLDA will no doubt be part of the plan and is welcomed as it will deliver much-needed jobs and add positively to the economic development of the region.

"Regarding aviation development, unfortunately, many people appear to misunderstand the airport's potential and its current position.

"The economics of delivering commercial passenger flights from CLDA are known to be challenging and are unlikely to happen anytime soon.

"What many people fail to realise is that the airport is already likely to be commercially viable whilst focusing on the areas of general aviation business that it can currently deliver.

"These all have huge potential to further develop and grow and include income generated by current and future tenant businesses, military activity, flight training, business aviation use, tourism, and much more including the sale and hire of products and services on-site like events and fuel.  

"Personally, I think AWJ has made a smart move and hopefully will focus on what CLDA can deliver and maybe those who think it’s all about getting a flight to the sun will pop over Newcastle like the rest of us. "