Rival airport hits out over new £205m subsidy plan

BRISTOL Airport has issued a stinging criticism of Welsh Government plans to invest a further £205m into Cardiff Airport, claiming the scale of the proposed subsidy would be unprecedented in the UK airport sector and provide its nearest rival with an unfair competitive advantage.

- SION BARRY

The Welsh Government, which acquired Cardiff Airport in 2013, said the planned investment over the next decade would be used to support the airport's diversification strategy in areas such as aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul, general aviation and increasing freight movements.

Some of the funding has also been earmarked to attract new airlines and routes, with the aim of increasing passenger numbers to over two million annually over the next decade.

Following a non-legally binding assessment of its investment plans from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), earlier this month the Welsh Government submitted revised funding plans for the Rhoose-based airport to the UK subsidy transparency database.

In an open letter to the Welsh Government's economy secretary, Rebecca Evans whose portfolio includes responsibility for the airport chief executive of Bristol Airport, Dave Lees, accuses the Welsh Government of a lack of transparency, with announcements being made prior to the Senedd going into recess.