COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
AUTUMN 2025

Dear $show_clientname,

As the seasons change and we settle into autumn, we're excited to bring you the latest updates and initiatives from London Biggin Hill Airport.

Over the summer, our team has been actively engaged in a range of outreach efforts. These initiatives reflect our ongoing commitment to foster meaningful connections, contribute to regional development, and ensure that the airport continues to be a resource and point of pride for our community.

We hope you enjoy reading this edition of the community newsletter and thank you for being an integral part of our journey.

Sunrise Challenge raises £9,500 for our charities!

Congratulations to everyone who participated in our Sunrise Challenge in June! The event saw over 400 runners (a record year!) take on the 5K run along our runway - bringing together colleagues, local community members, and supporters to raise vital funds for our three charity partners: Aerobility, RAF Benevolent Fund and Scotty's Little Soldiers.

Our mascots, Captains Mary & Merlin, were delighted to start the race and cheer participants on - it was great to see so many familiar faces taking part, all united by a shared goal: a meaningful impact.

Thank you to everyone involved in making the Sunrise Challenge happen - your hard work and determination raised an incredible £9,500, which will be divided between the charities. A special shout-out to The Biggin Hill Shed for handcrafting the participant medals too!

London Biggin Hill Airport leads UK-first trial of alternative taxiway material

In May, London Biggin Hill Airport became the first airport in the UK to trial a non-crude oil-based asphalt binder - and the world’s first to do so on an operational taxiway.

Known as Bio-Bitumen, the asphalt binder is made from renewable resources, specifically a combination of naturally occurring hydrocarbon resin and an organic extract.

The material was installed during a live demonstration, conducted by Associated Asphalt Contracting Ltd, together with their partners B2SQUARE - Bitumen Beyond Oil, attended by aviation and paving experts - watch the video here.

As we work towards our goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2029, we're committed to driving meaningful progress towards more sustainable initiatives. This project reflects London Biggin Hill Airport’s proud history of innovation, from pioneering air-to-air communications during the First World War, to today’s trials of new taxiway materials under live operational conditions.

Supporting the next generation of aviation talent

Over the summer, we were pleased to host a number of school & local youth organisation visits, including 40 enthusiastic young people from 1st Beckenham South (Christ Church) Beaver and Cub section.

As part of their journey towards earning the Air Activities Staged Activity Badge, they explored the different parts of an aeroplane, tested their engineering skills by making paper gliders, and had a special Q&A with Nadia Cairns - one of our Futures Week alumni - who shared her inspiring path to becoming a commercial pilot and what it’s like to take to the skies.
We were delighted to host 20 local students for work experience too. This year, we teamed up with Bombardier to provide the group with a valuable insight into working at an airport and aviation engineering. The students gained hands-on experience in different fields of business aviation - including customer service, flight operations, fuel and rescue & firefighting, to name a few.

At London Biggin Hill, we’re passionate about supporting the next generation of aviation professionals by providing them with the tools to unlock their potential and succeed. Our work experience opportunity runs during two dedicated weeks a year, in addition to our two ‘Futures Weeks’ and other initiatives in our Early Careers programme.

Primed for Progress - Bombardier Paint Facility takes shape at the airport

In July, we announced major milestones in the construction of Bombardier’s new European paint facility at the airport - with ground stabilisation and foundation work complete, steel structure installation progressing, and cladding now underway.

The high-spec 51,000 sq. ft., two-bay paint hangar, the first of its kind for Bombardier in the region, represents a key phase in the expansion of the London Biggin Hill Service Centre, one of the largest OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) MROs (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) in Europe. It will offer full exterior finishing for Bombardier’s fleet, including the soon-to-be-certified Global 8000.

With the project progressing on schedule, the facility is expected to be operational in 2026, employing more than 50 skilled paint technicians.

Proud to Support: Women's Football & Rugby

We’re delighted to announce that London Biggin Hill Airport has renewed its support for two local sports teams:

Bromley Football Club Women’s Team - Title Sponsor for 2025-2026 season

Bromley Rugby Football Club Girls’ Section - two year partnership

These collaborations underline our shared vision and commitment to championing gender diversity and increasing female accessibility, to both sport and aviation, within the London Borough of Bromley.

Our renewed partnerships will continue to support the further growth of the women’s game and boost the long term development of both teams.

Commemorating The Hardest Day - 85 years on

At London Biggin Hill Airport, we’re proud of our rich heritage and the role RAF Biggin Hill served as Winston Churchill’s ‘Strongest Link’.

To commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Hardest Day (18 August 1940), a Spitfire and Hurricane stood once more on our runway, with London behind them - remembering Churchill’s Few who flew with skill and courage throughout the Battle of Britain, supported by dedicated crews and operational staff.

We remember not only the bravery of ‘The Few’ who defended Britain, but also the Allied unity that would carry through to victory on VJ Day 80 years ago.

Air Charter Expo sees another record breaking year

We were delighted to host the Air Charter Expo - ACE25 at London Biggin Hill on Tuesday 9 September. This year was record-breaking - with more attendees, exhibitors, and international visitors than ever before, alongside many familiar faces returning to the event.

Presented by The Air Charter Association and Business Air News, ACE continues to be an excellent networking opportunity, bringing the global business aviation sector together at London Biggin Hill and showcasing the very best the industry has to offer. Watch the event video here.

Our CEO, David Winstanley, also participated in a panel discussion which highlighted the diverse nature of our industry and the vital role it plays - from enabling business connectivity to carrying out life-saving medical flights and delivering humanitarian aid when it matters most.
It's the most wonderful time of the year - and we're ready to make it magical! Our on-site hotel, The Landing, has prepared everything you need for a sparkling festive season:

Christmas Menu: Indulge in seasonal favourites with friends, colleagues or loved ones with our festive menu. Available from 24th November to 24th December.

Festive Afternoon Tea: A delightful treat with a seasonal twist. Available from 24th November to 4th January.

Open on Christmas & Boxing Day:
Leave the cooking to us and savour every moment together. Whether you’re gathering with friends, family or colleagues this festive season, sit back, relax and let us make your Christmas extra special.

Please note: all our festive experiences are available on a pre-booked basis only.

Stay at The Landing over Christmas & New Year

If you have loved ones visiting Biggin Hill this Christmas, why not let us take care of their stay?

Our spacious bedrooms are perfect for a festive break, ensuring your guests enjoy every comfort during the holiday season.

In addition to our comfortable double bedrooms, we have several interconnecting rooms to accommodate family stays.

We also have free on-site parking and a number of charging points for electric vehicles - our charging ports are run by Monta and chargeable.
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