Airport to get aid to cope with coronavirus impact
CARDIFF Airport is to receive support from the Welsh Government to deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
And the Welsh Government has called on Westminster to provide additional aid to the airport.
The Welsh Government will provide finance to the Rhoose-based airport through varying its existing agreed commercial loan facility, to support its reduced operations and to maintain solvency.
Just over half the jobs at the airport will be furloughed for a minimum of three weeks, to be reinstated when business needs change. The airport is topping up the Government payment of up to 80% to ensure all staff get 100% pay while they are on furlough.
Welsh Economy Minister Ken Skates has called on the UK Government to develop arrangements to enable Cardiff Airport to receive additional state support as compensation for the impact of coronavirus.
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic global travel restrictions mean there are currently no commercial flights operating for passenger travel from Cardiff Airport and operational hours of the airfield have been reduced.
But the airport remains open to provide freight, emergency and critical logistical support.
Mr Skates said: “Cardiff Airport is an important part of our economy and our transport network, and this proactive step will help to protect the airport.
“We will release the minimum amounts of the existing loan arrangement necessary to keep the airport operating, and will ensure it can continue to support the wider response to the outbreak.
“This includes being available for key medical flights and serving the needs of the military and emergency services.”
Deb Bowen Rees, CEO at Cardiff Airport, said they are facing an unprecedented situation as the current global Covid-19 pandemic continues and the entire aviation industry has reduced or stopped operations globally.
“The Cardiff Airport airfield remains open as it is vital as part of the national infrastructure that we remain in a position to support any essential flying for the UK whether it be freight, emergency or other critical activity that needs to take place,” said Ms Bowen Rees.
“Due to our airlines suspending services there are currently no commercial flights operating for passenger travel – the situation remains fluid and we’re in regular dialogue with our airline partners as to when these services will start flying again.
“As a result we have reduced our staffing presence at the airport to only the essential cover needed. We must maintain our regulatory compliance and ensure the airport site is kept safe and secure over the coming weeks. Keeping the airfield open will also ensure we will maintain regulatory currency so when flying does resume we are in the position to immediately step up.”
Ms Bowen Rees said that based on the current operational requirement and its desire to protect the business and jobs in the long term, Cardiff Airport has opted to furlough just over half of roles from Monday for a minimum of three weeks utilising the Government Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
“We have decided to ensure all staff being furloughed will receive 100% of their salary by topping up the Government payment of up to 80%. We will reinstate roles as and when the business needs change.
“As it stands we do not plan to make redundancies in our directly employed teams, and we are doing everything we can to safeguard roles and salaries. We have adopted flexible working patterns to ensure wellbeing of our staff and the continuation of these limited operations.”