3/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“Lovely Art Deco/Modern buildings and interiors.”
KNBD5★ on Google
Airports / United Kingdom / ESH
Medium airport · ESH
Brighton City Airport.
Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom · 7 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.4/5
Google rating
243 ratings
0
Operators based
7
Elevation ft
Brighton, East Sussex, United KingdomELEV 7 FTMedium airport
4.4
Google rating
243
Google reviews
ratings on Google
7
Field elevation
feet above sea level
19
Nearest alternate
nm to LGW
Field standing
#28 / 80
United Kingdom airports by Google rating
4.4★ across 243 Google ratings , ranked against 80 rated United Kingdom fields.
19 nm
To the nearest alternate
London Gatwick Airport (LGW), 6 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Located in Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom, Brighton City Airport (EGKA / ESH) operates as a mid-sized airport. Field elevation is 7 feet above sea level. Free of scheduled airline operations, it serves business aviation, charter flights, and local general aviation.
While no charter operators list ESH as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are London Gatwick Airport (LGW, 19 nm), Farnborough Airport (FAB, 32 nm), and London Biggin Hill Airport (BQH, 32 nm). The field has 3 runways, the longest 3,385-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to turboprops.
Trip costs from ESH are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. You may also see the field referenced as Shoreham Airport. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from ESH to plan your flight.
Run an FBO at EGKA? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
3/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“This is a must visit, great food, sensible pricing and helpful and attentive staff.”
Steve Dingley5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Brighton City Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
EGKA
IATA
ESH
FAA / Local
EGKA
Elevation
7 ft
Coordinates
50.8356° N · 0.2972° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs United Kingdom fields
state range 5–1,066 ft
At 7 ft, ESH sits lower than 98% of the 88 United Kingdom fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
3 runways
longest 3,385 ft
- 02/203,385 ft × 59 ftAsphaltLighted
- 06/242,621 ft × 82 ftGrass / turfUnlit
- 13/311,339 ft × 59 ftGrass / turfUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 3,385 ft
ESH's 3,385 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to turboprops.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 19nmLGWLondon Gatwick AirportLondon
- 32nmFABFarnborough AirportFarnborough, Hampshire
- 32nmBQHLondon Biggin Hill AirportLondon
- 34nmODHRAF OdihamHook, Hampshire
- 35nmEGHLLasham AirfieldAlton, Hampshire
- 36nmBBSBlackbushe AirportCamberley, Surrey
Location
Open the full mapEGKA · Brighton City Airport · Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from ESH on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 2,854 nm | 7h 2m |
| New York (TEB) | 3,011 nm | 7h 24m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 3,205 nm | 7h 51m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 3,449 nm | 8h 25m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 3,645 nm | 8h 53m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 3,805 nm | 9h 15m |
| Miami (MIA) | 3,851 nm | 9h 21m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 3,926 nm | 9h 32m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use ESH?
- Brighton City Airport's longest paved runway is 3,385 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to turboprops. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at ESH?
- Brighton City Airport has 3 runways; the longest measures 3,385 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to ESH?
- The closest alternate is London Gatwick Airport (LGW), about 19 nm away, followed by Farnborough Airport (FAB) at 32 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from ESH to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 7h 2m (2,854 nm), New York about 7h 24m (3,011 nm), Washington DC about 7h 51m (3,205 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.