Bristol Airport 'should mind their own business' as answers are demanded over Cardiff subsidy
Bristol Airport has written to the Welsh Government demanding more information on the £205 million subsidy for Cardiff Airport, which has been described as 'unprecedented'
Cardiff Airport
(Image: Cardiff Airport )
Solicitors representing Bristol Airport have approached the Welsh Government demanding further details regarding its £205 million subsidy allocation for Cardiff Airport. And Wales Online readers have been discussing the issue in our comments section.
News last week that Welsh households would see state support for Cardiff Airport increase to £286 per household ignited controversy. In a letter addressed to Welsh Government Finance Minister Rebecca Evans MS, Bristol Airport pointed out that the funding would surpass Cardiff Airport's yearly turnover and was set to last for the next decade, supplementing the nearly £200 million already paid by taxpayers to Cardiff Airport.
Bristol Airport has cautioned that the decade-long financial support could affect market dynamics, potentially narrowing air travel options for consumers, particularly those living in south Wales. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
Bristol Airport CEO Dave Lees citied concerns about the Welsh Government providing inadequate details on the public grant and its intended use – this, despite the Competition and Markets Authority raising significant points of contention, such as "unevidenced assumptions".
In a statement, Mr Lees declared: "We have publicly called for details to be urgently made available on the proposed subsidy including the benefits it will deliver, what alternatives have been considered, how the impacts have been assessed, in the context of the significant additional cost burden to the taxpayer in Wales.
"There have been repeated attempts by members of the Senedd and others to seek further detail on how Welsh Government intends to respond to the concerns raised in the CMA assessment has also been unsuccessful, resulting in a serious lack of transparency around this unprecedented subsidy in UK aviation, which is being funded at great expense by the taxpayer."
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CommenterThebear2025 said in response to the issue: 'Bristol Airport should concentrate on getting its own airport in order first. The access and parking is atrocious.'
Operaman1b agreed: 'Bristol Airport should mind their own business. They take enough revenue from Cardiff as it is, pure greed from Bristol Airport.'
Rodgerthedodger retorted: 'They don't 'take' anything from Cardiff, people just prefer to fly from there. If Cardiff doesn't like that they should make the effort to offer an attractive product.
"Neither of those is going to happen. Cardiff has little or no potential. It's in the wrong place, has very poor connections and an owner that has a poor record of managing it.
"The only places that it's the 'natural' airport for are south west Cardiff and South Glamorgan. Even if you fix all the obvious problems it will still have a far smaller catchment area than Bristol. The right thing to do is shut both and build a new one within a few miles of the M4/M5 junction.'
Gaggsie wondered: 'I don't know why Bristol Airport doesn't want Cardiff Airport to have investment. I welcome the money being spent by the Welsh Government and much prefer flying from Cardiff than Bristol.'
StevenBoyd replied: 'Investment is usually with the intention of getting a return. This is pouring money into a hole. Not quite the same thing.'
Smartymarty thought: 'If Cardiff airport offered flights to destinations other than the Costas maybe it would see more traffic. If flights are several £100 more than a flight from Bristol or London then people will vote with their wallet.'
StevenBoyd added: 'All the spaffing of our money at it, for well over a decade, has failed to produce any 'growth' at all. This isn't 'investment', it comes under the heading 'well that didn't work, let's try this'.'
TheBrigadier replied: '£286 subsidy per household is just £28.60 per year over the 10 year period. A good investment I say, to be able to travel from Cardiff rather than an expensive journey to Bristol or other airports.'
Darce believed: 'They should have more direct flights to more destinations. For example if I want to travel to New York or pretty much anywhere west from Wales I've got to catch a 1hr flight in the wrong direction, to then wait around to change planes and then double back on myself. Look at any other Capital City in the UK and all provide way more flights and choice of flights than Cardiff.'
Darce agreed: 'I'd happily pay up if Cardiff had much better transport access to the airport, a much more varied and regular choice of flights. Not just European destinations but long haul too ie. Caribbean, America's, Middle East. Plus more airport facilities like having a choice of lounges and ones that are open decent hours. Also CWL would benefit from using decent airlines that offer more than just a 3rd class experience. Emirates and BA just to name a few.'
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Do you think investing more money in Cardiff Airport is a smart move? Would you like to see the airport offer more flights? Have your say in our comments section.
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