Bristol Airport Pursues Legal Challenge Against £205m Cardiff Subsidy

Bristol Airport has launched a legal challenge against the Welsh Government's £205.2 million subsidy package for Cardiff Airport, arguing that the funding is unprecedented and exceeds Cardiff Airport's annual turnover each year over the proposed 10-year period. Bristol Airport's CEO, Dave Lees, emphasized that no other UK airport has received such extensive public subsidy, and warned that this could distort competition and reduce air travel options in the region. The Welsh Government, represented by Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans, affirmed the subsidy’s importance for South Wales' economy, citing thousands of jobs linked to Cardiff Airport and the potential for further economic growth. The government has committed to defending the legal challenge at the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), a specialist judicial body overseeing competition and economic regulatory issues. While the subsidy aims to boost passenger numbers and expand Cardiff Airport's facilities, the legal proceedings' timeline remains uncertain, with the Welsh Government urging that the independent legal process be allowed to run its course. Opposition voices have called for reconsideration of the subsidy strategy, highlighting that passenger numbers at Cardiff Airport have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels.