Julian Dunkerton has announced a joint bid to buy Gloucestershire Airport, with a pledge to maintain aviation operations at the Staverton site for the next 25 years.
It was revealed that the Superdry co-founder is bidding alongside an airport operator, whose identity has not been disclosed, in an announcement released on Tuesday 13 October 2026.
Julian, who is married to fellow county entrepreneur Jade Holland Cooper, says the proposal aims to retain jobs and investment in Gloucestershire and create opportunities for businesses to grow.
The announcement also links the bid to his ambitions to expand Superdry across Europe while keeping the business rooted in the county.
He said: ‘Jade and I have invested in Gloucestershire because we believe in its people, its heritage and its future.
‘This bid is about protecting our airport for the next 25 years and creating opportunities for businesses to grow.
'Our ambition is to keep jobs, investment and opportunity here, while strengthening Gloucestershire’s connections with the wider world.'
The airport’s joint owners, Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucester City Council, first announced plans to seek a new owner for Gloucestershire Airport in November 2023.
Savills was appointed to market the site in October 2024, with the councils citing the need for further investment.
Horizon Aero Group was named as the preferred bidder in July 2025, but the proposed sale of Gloucestershire Airport fell through in March 2026.
The councils said they could not agree terms after the group’s proposal changed substantially from its original bid.
In June 2026, the councils announced a renewed sale process through Savills. The airport had previously been marketed with a £25 million guide price.
Julian’s official announcement does not disclose the value of his joint bid or set out how the proposed 25-year commitment would be formalised.
