MD Karen Taylor tells Tara Craig about the plans she and her team have for Gloucestershire Airport, not least putting its real estate to work
Established in 1931 as Staverton Airfield, today’s Gloucestershire Airport is held “in a great deal of affection” by the local community, said managing director Karen Taylor. According to Taylor, it is one of the most popular general business and recreation aviation airports in the UK, handling as many as 80,000 aircraft movements each year. The airport is also an important helicopter centre, with Police Special Aviation Services and Babcock (formerly Bond Air Services) having their headquarters there.
Taylor joined in 2018 as commercial finance director, and has since given the airport a modern commercial vision, securing funding to deliver a major capital improvement programme. She told Airports International: “The commercial potential for this airport is fantastic, and to not deliver it would be a wasted opportunity.”
Key to this vision is delivering value through improved profitability, increased economic value and employment. This will in turn provide the foundation for the airport to fulfil its ambition to become a nucleus for regional connectivity, international travel growth and business innovation.
