Liverpool John Lennon Airport has a new majority stakeholder with The Peel Group exiting the business after almost 30 years.
Independent infrastructure manager Ancala has purchased an additional 47.1% stake from The Peel Group , securing majority ownership of the Speke-based airport with a 94.2% holding.
Liverpool City Council maintains its 5.8% stake in the airport, whilst the deal enables private real estate and infrastructure investment company Peel to exit completely. The company initially acquired a 76% share in the airport back in 1997 when Robert Hough assumed the chairmanship.
It spearheaded development initiatives at the airport, including building the new terminal to boost the facility's capacity, reports .
Ancala initially invested in Liverpool John Lennon Airport in 2019 through a joint venture arrangement with The Peel Group and Liverpool City Council.
The airport's turnover has surged by 47% since the financial year concluding March 31, 2019.
For the financial year ending March 31, 2025, turnover hit £53.9m as the airport processed 5.2m passengers, marking a 21% rise year-on-year. Last August, the airport achieved its busiest month on record with over 616,000 travellers passing through.
John Irving, chief executive of the airport, said: "Ever since Ancala invested in 2019, its team has been highly proactive and supportive of our mission to deliver a faster, easier and friendlier experience for our customers.
"With Ancala's increased commitment to the airport, I'm confident we'll continue to build on our momentum as we expand airline partnerships and welcome more passengers.
"I would like to thank The Peel Group for their original vision, long-term investment and dedication to Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Their contribution over the last 28 years has been instrumental in transforming the airport into the nation's favourite."
Tim Power, partner at Ancala, added: "Liverpool John Lennon Airport is one of Europe's top performing airports. Since our initial investment, we have worked closely with John, Liverpool City Council, the wider management team and our shareholders to unlock value creation opportunities which have enabled the business to provide its industry-leading services to even more customers.
"We would especially like to thank The Peel Group for their continued trust in us and for our long-standing and successful business partnerships.
"Ancala is proud of the strong partnership we've built with Liverpool City Council and we look forward to continuing our collaborative work to support the region's growth and prosperity.
"Increasing our stake reflects our continued confidence in the airport and its future potential. Through increasing our stake, we were also pleased to offer an attractive co-investment opportunity to our institutional investor base as we drive the airport's next phase of growth."
Cllr Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool City Council, said: "The longstanding and constructive relationship we've shared with Peel and Ancala, whose commitment to the airport has driven significant investment and regeneration, has helped to establish Liverpool John Lennon Airport as one of the best in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ.
"We're looking forward to continuing the positive and collaborative partnership we already have with Ancala, delivering continued growth and opportunity for the airport and our city."
Steven Underwood, chief executive of The Peel Group, added: "The Peel Group is proud of the remarkable progress and success of the airport since our initial investment in 1997. Over the years, the airport has not only seen significant growth in passenger numbers and popularity but has also become renowned for the quality of its infrastructure and the overall passenger experience.
"With Ancala's deep understanding of the airport, their passion for its continued success and a proven track record, we are confident that this new chapter supported by an exceptional management team will enable the airport to build on its strong foundations and continue its trajectory of growth and performance.
"The Peel Group remains a committed supporter and customer of the airport through our broader investments in Liverpool and the North West. We extend our best wishes to Ancala, Liverpool City Council and all the airport staff for continued success in the future."
The financial specifics of the deal have not been disclosed.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which is among the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's most punctual airports, was named Best º£½ÇÊÓƵ Airport by consumer group Which? in 2023 and 2024.
As part of its decarbonisation strategy for 2040, the airport is nearing completion of an on-site solar farm. This facility is expected to produce up to a quarter of the annual electricity consumption across the airport community, marking a significant stride in reducing its scope one and two emissions.
