Cwestiwn ysgrifenedig WQ96204

Welsh Government policy officials have held comprehensive discussions with the Cardiff Airport executive team during the development of our new strategy for Cardiff Airport and in the lead up to awarding the ten-year subsidy package; these discussions included the summer 2025 season.

During the development of our ten-year subsidy package for Cardiff Airport, Welsh Government policy officials commissioned an external, independent study by Grant Thornton to determine the estimated economic benefits that the airport would bring to Wales and the local economy. Whilst we are currently unable to disclose the full report, the GVA impacts are measured in three main categories:

• Direct GVA impacts: direct GVA arising from Cardiff Airport operations;

• Indirect GVA impacts: supply chain impacts arising from goods and services purchased by companies operating at Cardiff Airport; and

• Induced GVA impacts: further economic activity generated as a result of the direct and indirect GVA.

The analysis was based on data and information sourced from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Welsh Economy Research Unit, Companies House, the Welsh Government and Cardiff Airport.

The new strategy for Cardiff Airport was outlined by Ministers in July 2024 via the following Written Statement: Written Statement: Cardiff Wales Airport – long term strategy (22 July 2024) | GOV.WALES.

The Welsh Government has now carried out due process on the proposed investment package for Cardiff Airport and on 2 April, issued the following Written Statement;

Written Statement: Enabling the economic growth potential of Cardiff Airport and the South Wales region (2 April 2025) | GOV.WALES.

We have also now registered the subsidy award (ref: 37039). You can view the published version in the following link, which also confirms the policy objectives of the funding along with a description of the subsidy award; GOV.UK - Public user search subsidy award details page

The Grant Agreement between Cardiff Airport and the Welsh Government sets out a number of targets and monitoring and evaluation requirements that the Airport must achieve to comply with the conditions of funding. The Grant Agreement is commercially sensitive and therefore I cannot share the detail of that document, however the published subsidy award (ref: 37039), provides a description of the subsidy award including an overview of the two ‘packages’ of ringfenced funding aimed at attracting non passenger businesses (package 1) and targeted route development (package 2); GOV.UK - Public user search subsidy award details page

WGC Holdco Ltd will be the Designated Monitor to act on behalf of the Welsh Government and will perform robust, professional, independent assurance and monitoring duties against the airport’s progress with the agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).