Swansea Airport is set for a significant transition as the current leaseholder has agreed to relinquish its lease. Swansea Council, which owns the 450-acre site in Fairwood, Gower, announced that the change in management is forthcoming after various issues with the existing leaseholder culminated in the decision to terminate the lease.
The dispute had escalated to the point where the current leaseholder contested the council’s move to end the lease, with a court hearing initially scheduled for next month. However, this legal battle has now been averted. In the meantime, the Swansea Airport Stakeholders’ Alliance, a non-profit group comprising airport users, will assume temporary control of the airport while the council searches for a permanent operator.
The council leader noted that the complex negotiations had concluded successfully, enabling the installation of a temporary new leaseholder. The alliance, he said, is enthusiastic about making the airport a success. The deputy leader expressed gratitude to all involved in the recent discussions and highlighted that a long-term solution would be identified through a competitive tender process. This process will provide opportunities for future investment in Swansea Airport, with the alliance and others able to participate in the bidding.
Formed in 2021, the Swansea Airport Stakeholders’ Alliance has pledged to manage the airport in collaboration with the council, supporting existing businesses and users until a new long-term operator is selected. The alliance welcomed the opportunity to bid for a long-term partnership with the council and other stakeholders, aiming to establish a sustainable and community-friendly facility that offers social, economic, and environmental benefits. They plan to engage with various groups in the short term and develop proposals for the airport’s future operations.
The current leaseholder announced intentions to assemble a team of experts and bid for the long-term licence when the opportunity arises, also calling for an inquiry into the events leading to the present situation, which he described as extraordinary. Concerns were also raised about the future of the airport’s 16 full and part-time staff.
The Stakeholders’ Alliance acknowledged that it was too early to provide specific details about the future of the current employees, noting that a full assessment would be conducted once they assumed control. However, they assured that the airport would remain operational.
This resolution ends a turbulent period for Swansea Airport. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) suspended the airport’s operating licence in 2019 due to safety concerns identified during an inspection. Although the licence was reinstated, the leaseholder, who took over the lease in 2001, stated that he had invested substantial amounts annually despite operating at a loss.
In 2021, dissatisfaction with the airport’s management led the Swansea Airport Stakeholders’ Alliance and another group to propose alternative management plans to the council, citing issues such as the airport’s closure two days a week and the closure of the café. Following internal and external legal advice, the council entered into negotiations with the leaseholder for a new lease early in 2023, shortly after plans were announced to initiate passenger flights between Swansea and Exeter.
A council report highlighted ongoing issues with aviation fuel availability, general management, and staffing levels. Subsequently, the CAA suspended the airport’s refuelling licence and provisionally halted the operating licence due to systemic safety management failures. Within three months, the council’s cabinet decided to take legal action to terminate the lease with the leaseholder.
The leaseholder claimed he voluntarily agreed to a CAA licence suspension in March of the previous year to address the issues within six months. While significant problems were resolved, some issues remained, leading to the council’s decision to end the lease. The leaseholder alleged a lack of communication from the council for about 12 months and mentioned a recent request for a meeting was declined. He asserted that over £6 million had been invested in the airport over two decades, transforming it from dereliction to a facility with potential.
Swansea Airport’s origins trace back to its initial use as part of Fairwood Common. Transferred to Swansea Council’s predecessor in 1938, it was requisitioned during the Second World War for air defence. Post-war, the council established it as a civilian aerodrome and annulled common rights through a 1956 act, with provisions for preserving the land as open space if the aerodrome was abandoned for five years.
Over the years, the airport has served private pilots, flying schools, air cadets, sky-diving operators, and the Wales Air Ambulance. Currently, it hosts two flying schools, a sky-diving club, and a café. These activities do not require a CAA licence, which is necessary for commercial operations involving fare-paying passenger aircraft.
As Swansea Airport transitions to new management, the focus will be on ensuring the facility remains a vital community asset while a long-term operator is secured. The developments signal a new chapter for the airport, with potential future investments and opportunities on the horizon.
