With connectivity between North and South Wales continuing to concern many, and the Welsh Government being inflexible with the Anglesey-Cardiff air link, Janet Finch-Saunders, Assembly Member for Aberconwy, is challenging the Welsh Government over the appropriateness of spending almost £4million on maintaining the Anglesey-Cardiff flight.
Janet said:
“I have found that during the last three financial years, 2016-19, the Welsh Government have spent £3,753,299.00 of our tax payer’s money on funding our only North-South flight.
“Whilst the amount awarded for this financial year has been reduced to £856,322.00, this is still a huge amount of subsidy.
“Since the flight was first introduced over a decade ago, it has been praised by the Welsh Government for reducing the North-South journey time by half, and for overcoming the geographical barriers between the capital and North Wales.
“However, it really has to be asked whether the service, facilitating the movement of up to 14,700 people annually represents good use of public money.
“Through my own role as an AM, I have not once commuted down to the Senedd by plane. Indeed, for residents living in Aberconwy, North-East Wales, and even Gwynedd, the flight is not that accessible.
“Additionally, the current flights are problematic because of their times, and nonexistence on weekends, which Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, seems unable to address despite questioning from me.
“Going forward I think it might be time to ground the flight and divert the money to North-South rail and road schemes so that improved connectivity is beneficial to all in North Wales”.
ENDS
Written Assembly Questions by Janet Finch-Saunders AM:
First:
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Further to WAQ77008 will the Cabinet Secretary clarify how much state aid Anglesey-Cardiff flights received in 2016/17, 2017/18, and 2018/19, and provide a copy of the business case accepted by the European Commission for the Public Service Obligation? (WAQ77093)
Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport: Public Service Obligation air services are a permitted class of aviation state aid that addresses defined socio economic need. In the EU they are governed by Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 and Council Regulation (EEC) 3577/92.
The level of Welsh Government funding provided in 2016/17 was: £1,035,000. In 2017/18 it was: £1,861,977. This financial year (2018/19) to date, the value is: £856,322.
A review of the service was undertaken in 2014 and published in March 2015, which provides the basis for which the decision was made to retain the service. The review can be found on the Welsh Government Transport internet pages, here: https://beta.gov.wales/review-intra-wales-air-service-2015
Following the recent operator failures of Links Air and Van Air, a further review of the service was undertaken during 2016. The report was published in January, and provides the basis for retaining the service. This most recent review can also be found on the Welsh Government Transport internet pages, here: https://beta.gov.wales/review-options-air-service-between-north-and-south-wales
Second:
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary explain why there are no weekend flights to and from Anglesey Airport, and state whether the flights could leave the island earlier in the morning and Cardiff later in the evening? (WAQ77008)
Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport: Anglesey airfield is run by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), to support military operations. Civilian services are operated from Anglesey with the welcome cooperation and support of the MoD.
The military need means that the airfield is open at set times during the working day, but not at the weekend. As a result the airfield is not currently available for civilian services outside the hours determined by the MoD, although we remain open to dialogue with them about extending hours of civilian operation should the military’s position change.
In addition, the business case for the Public Service Obligation accepted by the European Commission is based on business use. Weekend flights in particular could undermine this case and lead to state aid issues which would need to be carefully managed.
Notes:
Subsidy for Cardiff-Anglesey air link almost doubles
Review of the PSO – Long Term Future