- Moderator
- #3,781
From the Welsh government submission
"The aim is to invest in at least two new MRO operations centres, to be built on-site. They will be smaller than the existing British Airways facility and forecast to employ at least 500 people, the majority of whom would be resident in South Wales.General Aviation (GA), Fixed Base Operations (FBO) & hangarageTo make the most of the potential GA market, the Airport intends to upgrade some of its on-site facilities and infrastructure, with a focus on supporting the growth of existing local GA companies and increasing the Airport’s appeal to major event organisers. To support this, the Airport will also invest in enhancing its FBO centres for business jet activity.Expanding FBO and GA services at the Airport will provide recruitment opportunities. FBOs require a diverse range of professionals, including pilots, flying instructors, mechanics, customer service representatives, and administrative personnel. Again, it is expected that the majority of jobs created will be taken by people resident in South Wales and the range of jobs will provide a mix of very high skill, high wage roles together with more accessible roles.CargoThe Airport will invest in cargo centre enhancements and initiatives to increase the use of belly hold freight on hub flights. As well as benefiting regional businesses by offering shorter supply chains to new markets, higher cargo capacity will also require more handlers, so new local jobs will be created.Lower carbon aviation technologiesThere are clear tensions between owning an airport and tackling the climate emergency, but the WG sees the Airport as a means by which it can, over time, take action to lower the environmental impact of flights to and from Wales and generate more green jobs. One avenue to achieve this is via accelerating the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels at the Airport.Air Route DevelopmentThe targeted air route development programme will concentrate on global aviation hubs and economic centres that are central to the WG’s wider economic growth aspirations. The route development programme also contains some provision for incentivising existing airline customers to expand their operations - especially those currently operating services to cities of economic importance - either through new routes, increased service frequency, larger aircraft, or some combination thereof. The terms of the agreement between WG and CIAL will prevent airlines from receiving any form of subsidy.Other capital investments, mainly in the form of terminal building and infrastructure upgrades, are included to enable the Airport to service the number of annual passengers in a manner consistent with WG polices around sustainability and equalities (especially for disabled passengers). The Airport also needs to be able to cope with surges in demand linked to major events, many of which take place in the summer peak period.The proposed subsidy was publicly announced on the 22nd July – Written Statement: Cardiff Wales Airport–long term strategy(22 July 2024)|GOV.WALES"
"The aim is to invest in at least two new MRO operations centres, to be built on-site. They will be smaller than the existing British Airways facility and forecast to employ at least 500 people, the majority of whom would be resident in South Wales.General Aviation (GA), Fixed Base Operations (FBO) & hangarageTo make the most of the potential GA market, the Airport intends to upgrade some of its on-site facilities and infrastructure, with a focus on supporting the growth of existing local GA companies and increasing the Airport’s appeal to major event organisers. To support this, the Airport will also invest in enhancing its FBO centres for business jet activity.Expanding FBO and GA services at the Airport will provide recruitment opportunities. FBOs require a diverse range of professionals, including pilots, flying instructors, mechanics, customer service representatives, and administrative personnel. Again, it is expected that the majority of jobs created will be taken by people resident in South Wales and the range of jobs will provide a mix of very high skill, high wage roles together with more accessible roles.CargoThe Airport will invest in cargo centre enhancements and initiatives to increase the use of belly hold freight on hub flights. As well as benefiting regional businesses by offering shorter supply chains to new markets, higher cargo capacity will also require more handlers, so new local jobs will be created.Lower carbon aviation technologiesThere are clear tensions between owning an airport and tackling the climate emergency, but the WG sees the Airport as a means by which it can, over time, take action to lower the environmental impact of flights to and from Wales and generate more green jobs. One avenue to achieve this is via accelerating the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels at the Airport.Air Route DevelopmentThe targeted air route development programme will concentrate on global aviation hubs and economic centres that are central to the WG’s wider economic growth aspirations. The route development programme also contains some provision for incentivising existing airline customers to expand their operations - especially those currently operating services to cities of economic importance - either through new routes, increased service frequency, larger aircraft, or some combination thereof. The terms of the agreement between WG and CIAL will prevent airlines from receiving any form of subsidy.Other capital investments, mainly in the form of terminal building and infrastructure upgrades, are included to enable the Airport to service the number of annual passengers in a manner consistent with WG polices around sustainability and equalities (especially for disabled passengers). The Airport also needs to be able to cope with surges in demand linked to major events, many of which take place in the summer peak period.The proposed subsidy was publicly announced on the 22nd July – Written Statement: Cardiff Wales Airport–long term strategy(22 July 2024)|GOV.WALES"
