Blackbushe Invests in Alternative UK Bizav Gateway

The private owners of Blackbushe Airport (EGLK) are investing around $20 million to offer business aircraft operators alternative access to London and south England. By year-end, a pair of four-bay hangars will open, with two more planned in 2027 along with a new general aviation terminal building.

Blackbushe is located about five miles north of Farnborough Airport, offering a similar drive time into central London. Business operations director Rebecca Cornthwaite told AIN that the facility is providing light business jets with an alternative to capacity-constrained London-area airports. 

Currently, general aviation activity—including a flight school owned by the airport—accounts for around 95% of activity at Blackbushe. The airport’s management team has stressed that it is not looking to replace the general aviation community, but pointed out that, even at 5% of total traffic, business aviation already generates around 20% of its income. The site also continues to see demand from helicopter operators.

Blackbushe’s single Runway 7/25 is 4,215 feet long and 151 feet wide, and is equipped for visual approaches with high-intensity edge lighting and PAPIs. For private operations, the airport can accommodate jets up to the size of Dassault Falcon 8Xs and Gulfstream G550s, but it has wider appeal for commercial flights with aircraft such as the Pilatus PC-24 and PC-12, as well as Beechcraft King Airs.

No Movement Constraints

Unlike its  Farnborough neighbor, Blackbushe Airport is not constrained by a cap on annual movements. According to airport managing director Chris Gazzard, Blackbushe is drawing interest from operators seeking workarounds to weekend restrictions at Farnborough and other locations. 

Despite their proximity, or perhaps because of it, Gazzard views the two airports as complementary, rather than being in direct competition, with each serving somewhat different market segments. In his view, light jets in particular will now find a warmer welcome at Blackbushe, where the new hangars will eventually have space for around two dozen aircraft of this size.

Standard daily operating hours at Blackbushe are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, with extensions available until 10 p.m. subject to a supplementary landing fee that also applies on public holidays. The airport, which is closed only on December 25, offers taxi times to and from the runway of just two minutes.

Landing fees (excluding 20% VAT) range from around £225 ($301) for a King Air to £600 for a Falcon 8X or G550, with these charges reduced by £100 for based operators. Overnight aircraft parking costs between £37.50 and £250, with no charge for same-day visits.

Farnborough Airport offers a 6,800-foot ILS-equipped runway with significantly greater operational flexibility, as well as extensive hangar and apron space and a purpose-built terminal. It does not publish its landing and parking fees, but they are understood to be substantially more than those at Blackbushe.

Gazzard said the availability of hangars will make Blackbushe more “weather resilient” for business aircraft operators. He said around 150 prospective clients have already put themselves on a waiting list for hangar space, and he expects the new terminal to be popular, especially with air charter operators.

According to Cornthwaite, Blackbushe has the potential to attract a wide array of support companies as the operator base expands. In particular, the airport is keen to attract maintenance, repair, and overhaul providers.

Blackbushe’s owners—British IT entrepreneur Peter Ogden and his family—have shown patience and commitment in pursuing what they see as the airport’s full potential. Development work was stalled for years by local planning approval processes that are now resolved. 

A country park now provides a public space and a noise buffer to local residential areas. According to the management team, noise complaints are minimal, and the most recent public consultations about the airport’s future attracted around 500 letters of support and only about 30 in opposition.