In 2004 a study into the airport indicated that a £1 million upgrade would attract thousands of business passengers a year flying to London and Europe. The study found that the business demand from South Cumbria would be equal to 4,500 journeys in a year, reaching 7,900 by 2020. Conversion of the airport into an international airport is only at a planning stage, but already the number of aircraft using the airfield has increased with the completion of an upgrade programme, including Instrument Landing System (ILS) installation for runway 35, resurfacing and re-lighting of runway 17/35, security fencing around the entire airfield and other improvements such as signage.