New operator the Swansea Airport Stakeholders’ Alliance (SASA) started work at the facility that day after high-level talks with land owner Swansea Council.
SASA has taken on the Fairwood Common facility on a temporary basis, with the previous leaseholder agreeing to relinquish its lease.
The airport will continue to operate and the council will soon begin a process to find a long-term tenant.
Bob Oliver MBE, Chairman of the Alliance said: “Friday marked the culmination of three years of intensive work by the Alliance. I pay tribute to the skill and professionalism of Alliance members, of our stakeholders and of the council, who have put their faith in us to secure a brighter future for the Airport.
“Our first task is to take stock of what we have inherited and then begin to bring the airport back to life – to make it a welcoming place to visit, to start delivering social, environmental and economic benefits to the council and the people of Swansea and to make it a facility we can all be proud of.”
(Image: Swansea Council)
Council leader Rob Stewart said: “We’re delighted to have the alliance in place as a temporary new leaseholder. They’ve started running the airport and its members are eager to make a success of it.”
Council joint deputy leader David Hopkins said: “We’ll start to look for a long-term solution through a competitive tender process. The alliance will have the opportunity, with others, to bid in that process. There’ll be opportunities for future investment in Swansea Airport.
“We’ll keep the public informed about our ongoing activity to give the airport a viable future.”
Swansea Council is the landlord of Swansea Airport. It says a range of issues with the previous tenant arose over recent years. These resulted in the existing lease being brought to an end.
To ensure the facility remains open, the council say the alliance have taken temporary control of the airport now that the previous leaseholder has vacated, ensuring a seamless handover.
The council adds that it does not envisage any additional cost to the taxpayer and the airport will remain open.
(Lead image: Swansea Council)
