Gloucestershire Airport is proposing to remove its grass runway because it is “underused and has potential for future development”.

The proposal came to light in a Proposal to change airspace submitted by the airport, although it is not clear whether this is actually necessary.

A commentator in the FLYER forum, where there is a active thread about recent incidents at the airport, said: “The grass runway is short, bumpy and hardly used except by four or five local residents, myself included.

“Last year the pitch was unavailable for several months when an improvised water feature was held there, and the same was true in previous summers when the main asphalt renewal and associated lighting works were taking place.

“It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why load factors have dropped since the closure of Tiger Airways, for which the system was installed.

AIP diagram for Gloucestershire Airport showing the grass runway within taxiway A

“A few cuts are required during the summer months (about an hour with the tractor) and a large can of Sandtex once a year to freshen up the markings.

“It will cost them more to put big Xs on both ends or dig up the concrete markers than it will cost to maintain them for the next five years.”

Gloucestershire Airport is jointly owned by Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucester City Council. In December 2023, they announced they were seeking a buyer for the airport. A sales prospectus is expected shortly.

FLYER has asked the airport for a response to the above comments and this article may be updated.

Gloucestershire Airport