Swansea Airport: Licence suspended over safety concerns
Swansea Airport’s licence has been suspended by the UK’s aviation authority.
Inspectors from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) temporarily halted the aircraft’s operating permit after suspending its refuelling permission.
The CAA notified the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the suspension was due to a “systemic failure of safety management”.
The deadline for Swansea Airport Ltd. to submit a “corrective action plan” is February 28.
Less than a month has passed since Swansea Council, the facility’s owner, decided to begin negotiating a new lease with Swansea Airport Ltd., the present operator.
Campaigners had urged the government to consider alternative solutions.
Swansea Airport Ltd. announced that scheduled passenger flights between Swansea and Exeter would begin at the end of March this
year, just before council chiefs voted to extend the lease.
The CAA attributed the licence suspension to poor safety management, insufficient airport protection, and a lack of an accountable
manager.
The CAA could initiate enforcement action.
Roy Thomas, the director of Swansea Airport Ltd., stated that he would submit an action plan and that airport employees would
concentrate more on making sure the three-mile (5-kilometer) airport perimeter was free of grazing animals.
He went on to say that the most recent CAA action might force the Swansea to Exeter flight schedule to change.
Although no names were given, Exeter Airport stated that an airline operator had contacted them regarding a possible service to
Swansea.
“We can confirm that we approached by an operator interested in this route and are awaiting further details from them,” according to
Exeter Airport officials.
Swansea Airport Ltd took over an existing lease for the airport, at Fairwood Common, Gower, around 20 years ago. The CAA
suspended the operating licence in 2019 on safety grounds, reinstating it two years later.
A number of airport users have claimed that the airport has become rundown, and have set up a group called Swansea Airport
Stakeholders’ Alliance. The alliance has submitted proposals to the council to take over the running of the airport, as has businessman,
Jim Blythe, who leases aircraft there.
Although the airport’s operating licence is provisionally suspended, flight schools and other training activities that don’t require a
licensed facility can still operate.
Swansea Council said: “We are aware of the position, are in contact with the CAA and tenant, and are considering the situation.”
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