Whistle-blower raised safety and funding questions as council insists no formal offer was made
SWANSEA COUNCIL l has denied claims that it turned down a £50m investment proposal for Swansea Airport, insisting it has not been formally approached by anyone other than the Swansea Airport Stakeholders Alliance (SASA) with a detailed offer.
The clarification comes after concerns were raised with the Herald by a whistleblower, who alleged biased treatment in favour of SASA, questioned operational standards at the airport, and suggested taxpayers may be indirectly funding its operation.
In a statement, a Swansea Council spokesperson said Cabinet had agreed to grant a long-term lease to SASA following a report outlining options for the site after a period of interim arrangements.
The spokesperson said the decision built on progress made since July last year, when SASA took temporary control of the airport after the previous operator surrendered its lease, allowing the site to remain open.
Council outlines reasons for lease decision
According to the council, since taking over, SASA has reinstated the airport’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) aerodrome licence following a successful audit, improved operational standards and compliance, introduced new amenities including a café, and attracted interest from businesses looking to relocate to the site.
SASA will be offered a lease on commercial terms, subject to independent valuation, with the council stating this will ensure best consideration as landlord.
“The airport had faced an uncertain future before we began working with SASA to put in place a management plan,” the spokesperson said.
Cabinet was told that pursuing alternative options would have required taking the site to market and reapplying for a CAA licence, which could have led to disruption and uncertainty.
Investment and taxpayer funding claims denied
Addressing claims that a £50m investment offer had been ignored, the council said: “We’ve not been formally approached by anyone other than SASA with any detailed offers for the operation of the airport.”
The spokesperson added that the council operates an “open door policy” and any interested party can request a meeting to discuss investment opportunities at any time.
The council also rejected suggestions that taxpayers are subsidising the airport, stating: “We plan to offer no financial support as part of any future agreement. The lease will be on commercial terms; all occupational costs will be an obligation of SASA.”
Safety and environmental concerns
The whistleblower also raised concerns about fire cover, staffing, and an alleged environmental incident involving firefighting foam entering drains.
In response, the council said the airport is a licensed facility and operational matters fall under the responsibility of the licensee and the CAA as the regulatory body. Officers had sight of the recent “positive CAA audit” which led to the reinstatement of the licence.
The council added that its officers had not been asked to investigate any recent environmental incidents.
Background to lease decision
The council’s decision follows a turbulent period for Swansea Airport after the previous operator surrendered its lease in 2024, placing the site’s future and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) licence at risk.
In July last year, the Swansea Airport Stakeholders Alliance (SASA) stepped in on an interim basis to keep the airport open, with the CAA licence later reinstated following a successful audit.
Since then, the council says SASA has introduced a café, tightened operational standards, rebuilt confidence within the flying community and attracted interest from businesses looking to relocate to the site.
Cabinet approved the move to grant a long-term lease earlier this month, with council leader Rob Stewart previously saying that taking the airport back to market would have required a fresh CAA licence application, potentially leading to disruption and uncertainty.
Under the proposal, SASA will be offered a lease on commercial terms, subject to independent valuation, allowing it to invest in infrastructure while the council retains its role as landlord.
Ongoing scrutiny
The council said it remains committed to supporting aviation in Swansea while ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and best value principles.
The Herald understands that concerns continue to be raised by some within the local aviation community, and the situation will be kept under review.
