Press Release

23 July 2025

New operator approved for Solent Airport at Daedalus

At a special Executive meeting on 22 July, executive members at Fareham Borough Council approved a new airport operator for Solent Airport at Daedalus. The details of the new operator will remain confidential until the contract arrangements are finalised.

Regional and City Airports (RCA), the current operator of Solent Airport at Daedalus, has been in place since 2016. Its current 10-year contract expires in 2026, so the opportunity needed to be retendered. RCA has decided not to retender, as its focus is on the Airports that it owns and, therefore, the process to find a new operator began in the autumn of 2024. 

Executive Leader of Fareham Borough Council, Cllr Simon Martin, said: “This exercise was a high-stakes procurement as, if we hadn't been able to find the right operator, the Council may have had to step in to manage the airport directly. However, this has not proven necessary, and I am confident that we have agreed on the very best new operator to take Solent Airport forward and further our vision for Daedalus.”  

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Solent Airport at Daedalus is a key project set out in Priority Four of the Council’s Corporate Strategy: promote economic development.

For further information contact:

Customer Enquiries

Tel: 01329 236100
Email: customerservicecentre@fareham.gov.uk

Media Enquiries

The Communications Team
Tel: 01329 824310
Email: publicity@fareham.gov.uk
Fax: 01329 550576

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