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Cardiff Airport CEO appointed

The former Managing Director of Cardiff Airport Jon Horne is returning as its new Chief Executive Officer, it has been announced. Last week the Welsh Government reached an agreement to buy the airport.

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Bristol Airport: 'We seek assurances that Cardiff Airport will be run on a commercial basis and would not receive subsidies from the Welsh Government"

Bristol airport say they are awaiting further information on the proposals with interest but,they say, based on the information available they would question whether the acquisition of a commercial business operating in a highly competitive market is the best use of taxpayers’ money.

They went on to say the nationalisation of Cardiff Airport goes against the global trend towards privatisation and increased competition amongst airports, which is particularly the case in the UK regional market.

Passengers in Wales are already well-served by a combination of Cardiff and other airports, including Bristol. Bristol Airport’s route network includes 100 direct services and access to many more destinations worldwide through multiple daily flights to major European hubs.

Bristol Airport welcomes fair competition on a level playing field, but we are concerned that Welsh Government intervention may distort the market for air travel in the South West of England and South Wales to the detriment of consumers on both sides of the border.

We are also concerned about the recent Silk Commission’s recommendation to devolve long-haul aviation passenger tax to Wales and the First Minister’s stated intention to scrap this tax.

The First Minister has stated today that Cardiff Airport will be run on a commercial basis and would not receive subsidies from the Welsh Government. We will seek assurances from the First Minister that this will be the case.

– Robert Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer at Bristol Airport
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Cardiff Airport CEO appointed

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