Private jets barred from Scottish military airfield Leuchars after radar shutdown

Private jet operators can no longer use RAF Leuchars, a military airfield in Scotland, after its radar systems were switched off on 1 July 2026. The shutdown of the primary and secondary radar also ended the airfield's Lower Airspace Radar Service, according to the aviation trade portal ADS Advance.

The airfield remains open for military flights, and its control tower continues to operate as normal. Only civilian private aircraft traffic is affected by the change.

Leuchars had been a popular stop for private jets because of its proximity to St Andrews, roughly eight kilometres away. According to the UK Ministry of Defence, 100 private aircraft landed at the site between October 2023 and October 2025, generating around £204,420, or roughly €236,000, in revenue for the ministry.

With Leuchars no longer available, private jet traffic bound for the St Andrews area is expected to shift to nearby airports, including Dundee and Edinburgh, which are now cited as the main alternatives for travellers who previously used the military airfield.

No reason was given in the available information for the timing of the radar decommissioning, and it remains unclear whether the change is permanent or linked to wider works at the site.