Swansea Airport has announced it is launching flights to and from Exeter this year, the first scheduled passenger flights from the airport in almost 20 years. An announcement was made on its social media page, explaining how the move will provide interchange access to airports.
There have been no scheduled passenger flights operating from Swansea Airport since 2004. Passengers who fly to Exeter from Swansea will be able to use the airport as an interchange, getting connecting flights to Spain, Ireland and the Channel Islands.
It is the first of many improvements to come, it has been indicated, with further infrastructure and services set to return to the airport, based in Fairwood Common, over the course of the coming year. Get Swansea stories straight to your inbox with our newsletter.
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A statement read: "Scheduled services are back! Swansea Airport are pleased to announce that Scheduled Services will re-launch from Swansea Airport this year. The end of March will see the start of services between Exeter and Swansea, joining the airport with Exeter provides interchange access to airports across the UK as well as the Channel Islands, Ireland and Spain. This is the first step in a long planned improvement plan for the airport which will see further infrastructure and services returning to the airport over the year."
We recently reported how the airport looks likely to be leased once more to its current operator, despite complaints about the way it has been run over the years. The airport is owned by Swansea Council and managed by Swansea Airport Ltd, which has served a notice requesting a new tenancy. The council has to respond by February 3, and cabinet will meet next week to decide.
Two other groups want to run the airport, but a report before cabinet has recommended sticking with Swansea Airport Ltd - which took over the lease from a predecessor around 20 years ago - while ensuring it continued to invest in the facility. The council doesn't want to operate the airport itself because of the cost and also the "significant" carbon emissions involved. The authority is aiming to be "net zero" in carbon emissions by 2030.
WalesOnline contacted Swansea Airport but was told nobody was available to comment further on the announcement.
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