Swansea

[jmdavies86]

Interesting post on Swansea Airport's FB page earlier today announcing the resumption of scheduled service(s)...

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 & 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 & services returning to the Airport over the year.

Speculation in the comments that it's Air Alderney who will be operating these flights, however the Airport have said that "Details of the operator are due to be published shortly along with the full schedule. However, full confirmation has been received today."

[LTNman]

There is already a Swansea thread.

The wooden terminal is in a bit of a state and will need doing up.

[Letsflycwl]

Interesting post on Swansea Airport's FB page earlier today announcing the resumption of scheduled service(s)...



Speculation in the comments that it's Air Alderney who will be operating these flights, however the Airport have said that "Details of the operator are due to be published shortly along with the full schedule. However, full confirmation has been received today."

Swansea Airport webpage has been revamped too it appears……

Interesting choice with EXT but is an awful long drive as alternative plus would you be able to connect with the Channel Islands by means of through checking baggage ??

Used Swansea a few times back with Air Wales and the ATR hopping to CWL and onto LCY. Surprised how many used that route in all honesty. Yes Air Wales failed to make it a success but maybe the ATR 42 was too big at that time, J41 or Saab would have been better but Who knows.

The airport was in a poor state then but seems to have been having a gradual makeover.

Wish them all the best - especially at a time where CWL is being hit from all angles !

[EGTE]

I heard mutterings about Air Alderney having an interest in an Alderney to Exeter service some time ago. Why not extend the service on to Swansea?

[LTNman]

Seem to remember that many years ago an ILS was installed but never used or did I imagine it?

[Letsflycwl]

If it is Air Alderney then they operate BNI aircraft which will be 9 seaters unless they are getting the D28 as commented elsewhere ?

[TCAS FAN]

Seem to remember that many years ago an ILS was installed but never used or did I imagine it?

No you didn’t. Installed, flight checked,Air Wales ceased ops, ATC downgraded to AGCS - never used operationally.

[TCAS FAN]

Interesting post on Swansea Airport's FB page earlier today announcing the resumption of scheduled service(s)...



Speculation in the comments that it's Air Alderney who will be operating these flights, however the Airport have said that "Details of the operator are due to be published shortly along with the full schedule. However, full confirmation has been received today."

With no ATC, no navaids, no Instrument Approach Procedures and South Wales weather, quite apart from no functional terminal building, appears to a bit of a premature announcement, 1st April still two plus months away.

Or is it a case of second time around, someone looking to make a small fortune out of running an airline - by starting with a big one?

[LTNman]

I last visited there I think in October 2021. The airport looked semi abandoned with even the Covid testing station that was set up in the car park empty. I spent half an hour having a wonder inside the terminal and walking around outside and didn’t spot a living thing.

[SWBKCB]

If it is Air Alderney then they operate BNI aircraft which will be 9 seaters unless they are getting the D28 as commented elsewhere ?

Whether it means anything, but there is an advert on the front page of the airport website for Air Alderney charters

[OldLurker]

Is Air Alderney a functioning airline? It doesn't seem to have any scheduled services, only charters with an Islander or two and a Trislander.

OTOH, Aurigny already runs scheduled services between Guernsey and Exeter (using ATR 72); maybe they could easily extend to Swansea?

[TCAS FAN]

.................OTOH, Aurigny already runs scheduled services between Guernsey and Exeter (using ATR 72); maybe they could easily extend to Swansea?

See my post #8, explains why they cannot currently do so with an ATR 72, together with the fact that Swansea does not have the required level of Fire/Rescue facilities for that size of aircraft.

[639]

I last visited there I think in October 2021. The airport looked semi abandoned with even the Covid testing station that was set up in the car park empty. I spent half an hour having a wonder inside the terminal and walking around outside and didn’t spot a living thing.


I think "Terminal" is a rather grand term for the tired wooden annexe that from time to time has contained a 3rd rate Cafe.
I have fond memories of Swansea, I got my PPL there and its a wonderful area to fly around, but has been mismanaged for decades.
I'm not sure whether the reason for this announcement is that the current Leaseholder is running scared due to calls from a few parties for someone else to be given the lease and making stuff up or its genuine and on condition that its lease is transferred.
I hope someone with at least some idea does indeed take it over.

[Letsflycwl]

When Air Wales operated through Swansea prior to them moving to Cardiff they had a “decent” check-in area plus I recall they had a brand new arrivals building with a carousel for baggage collection. I do not know if it ever became operational or not or if it is still at Swansea. It was brand new and resembled a large shipping container but sufficient for an airport this size.

Not sure if it belonged to Air Wales or the Airport ?

The departure area itself was small and very basic but again sufficient for the operations at that time. I guess this was moth-balled when Air Wales left.

[LTNman]

Go back enough years Morton Air Services operated a Swansea to Gatwick service. At the same time, according to my Swansea Municipal Airport handbook, the airport also had Cambrian Airways, Dan-Air and BMA as users.

[Letsflycwl]

There were also regular airlifts to DUB for the Six Nations back in the 90’s. Remember seeing x2 Shorts 360 on ground at same time in my younger days.

VLM have also visited with a F50 plus a few B19 aircraft of TwinJet.

Be interesting to see how this all progresses and wish them the best with it all.

[davidjohnson6]

I'd love to see Swansea having commercial airline passenger service. Once there have been a couple of departures carrying passengers for money out of Swansea, I'll be buying a ticket to whatever route exists
However, when comparing to airports like Blackpool, Cambridge, Carlisle, Lydd, Oxford and Brighton/Shoreham - can anyone justify why Swansea can support commercial airline service ? Even Cardiff has its ups and downs...

[TCAS FAN]

Go back enough years Morton Air Services operated a Swansea to Gatwick service. At the same time, according to my Swansea Municipal Airport handbook, the airport also had Cambrian Airways, Dan-Air and BMA as users.

Remember those days very well, flew in there with ATC, an NDB with instrument approach procedures and a radar that enabled ATC to provide 1/2 mile SRAs when the weather got really bad.

[LTNman]

Seem to remember Swansea being used for live animal shipments. Anyone remember the airline, aircraft type and even the year? No cargo now, just random light aircraft.

[Letsflycwl]

Seem to remember Swansea being used for live animal shipments. Anyone remember the airline, aircraft type and even the year? No cargo now, just random light aircraft.

Im sure it was an Antonov 26 or similar….not sure but think it could have been the Latvian airline RAF Avia.

[nickp]

Remember those days very well, flew in there with ATC, an NDB with instrument approach procedures and a radar that enabled ATC to provide 1/2 mile SRAs when the weather got really bad.
In the '60s Mortons operated a Heron from Gatwick to Swansea in the morning and back in the late afternoon. I left in '64 so I don't know how long the service continued for after that.

[GROUNDHOG]

[QUOTE=Letsflycwl;11369057]When Air Wales operated through Swansea prior to them moving to Cardiff

At the risk of being pedantic Air Wales version 2 started operational life in Cardiff instead of the planned Pembrey,, Swansea may have come later after my time there. Unless of course you are referring to Air Wales version1 of which I have no knowledge!
Is the lease holder in Swansea still Roy Thomas, in which case I wish him every success.
I remember dispatching the Morton flights to Swansea, Goodness I am getting old.

[runway30]

Don't forget Air Corbiere who flew a schedule down to Jersey.

[Flightrider]

And wasn't there an Air Anglia PA31 (and later Air UK Bandeirante) service which went something like Norwich-Birmingham-Swansea-Exeter back in the late 1970s through to early 80s?

[LTNman]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/21097523/uk-airport-new-flights/

So where is the demand? I give it 3 months max

[LGS6753]

They have certainly done well with the publicity - it's a pity they couldn't give more details.

[Aero Mad]

This appears to be standard practice for Air Alderney, which has spent many years promising and then not launching scheduled services to Alderney. The info below did the rounds in the Channel Islands a few months ago; I make no guarantees as to the veracity of the below but it may be of interest.

February 2017 – Air Alderney launched to the media by Julian Storey, a pilot formerly expelled from Croydon Council for failing to attend the minimum statutory number of meetings. During an “unexplained” period in absentia of three to six months, Mr Storey reportedly failed to respond to his Council colleagues and constituents, while still claiming £6,000 in expenses. He promises to operate scheduled flights by the end of the year.
No company formed; services to be operated in association with Wessex Aviation, based in Kent, a company which restores vintage helicopters.
October 2017 – Wessex still has not secured an Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from the CAA or Guernsey aviation regulator. Nevertheless, it promises to base its Turbo Islander, 2-BILL, in Alderney ‘in a matter of weeks’. Aircraft never enters service, nor is ever based in Alderney. Wessex announces flights to Lee-on-Solent without checking the airfield’s limitations first. CAA refuses to allow scheduled flights without installation of better lighting and navigation aids. Flights do not take place.
End of 2017 – services do not begin. Mr Storey ceases to be involved with the concept around this time; Danny Brem-Wilson, Wessex’s owner, becomes the primary spokesperson for the concept.
January 2018 – applies for and receives a freight licence between Alderney – Guernsey. Services never begin.
February 2018 – applies for and receives route licences, using a Eurocopter EC155 helicopter belonging to Heli Holland. The company reports that “the above-mentioned helicopter visited Alderney and Guernsey in March, which sadly caused some anguish to the relevant authorities who are unaccustomed to accommodating this type of helicopter”. Promises to begin services to Jersey and Cherbourg ‘very soon’.
April 2018 – services do not begin as promised. The company is still unable to obtain an AOC. Wessex blames delays on being unable to secure a check-in desk in Alderney, high charges in Jersey, and difficulties getting the right licences. It later gives up with trying to operate Turbo Islander aircraft and obtains the (standard) piston version.
February 2019 – announces it will set up an Alderney Air Ambulance charity using a 40 year old Bolkow 105 helicopter. Criticises Air Rescue Channel Islands’ statement as to the importance of a joint project as ‘irresponsible’ and ‘extremely misleading’.
June 2019 – registers an air ambulance charity in Guernsey, which continues to accept donations on its website long after the attempt to set up a working medevac service ceases. Announces air ambulance ‘very close to being in the air’. Charity wound up in 2021; no public statements since December 2019. £15,919 loan from Alderney Air Ambulance to Wessex Aviation Ltd shown in 2021 accounts.
December 2019 – announces ‘commencement of operation in February 2020’. Later in December, Wessex realises that its route licences are no longer valid, because it failed to begin services on time. Danny Brem-Wilson, Wessex’s owner, blames the States for not reminding him.
February 2020 – services do not begin. The company gives no further details.
November 2021 – finally obtains an Air Operators Certificate, and begins charter work. Promises scheduled flights from Shoreham to Alderney ‘in the New Year’, but does not apply for the relevant route licences. Scheduled services do not begin.
February 2022 – promises that scheduled services will begin ‘very soon’. Services do not begin. Applications still not made for necessary route licences.
March 2022 – announces a Britten-Norman Trislander aircraft, formerly used in the Channel Islands, will be entering service in ‘Q4 2022’, despite no Trislanders flying outside South America and the Caribbean. Six examples of the 52 year old design remain airworthy in the world.
April 2022 – criticises Alderney States members amid disruption to Alderney’s air services over Easter in a garbled public statement. “While Alderney burns its elected representatives are pointing finger at others whilst preventing an immediate solution.” The company has still to apply for any route licences.
Early 2022 – Wessex begins campaigning against an extended runway for Alderney, despite its fleet being able to use the runway regardless of its length.
October 2022 – services do not begin. No Trislanders on UK or Guernsey aircraft registers. No Trislander enters service. No scheduled routes, no outstanding route licence applications.
October 2022 – Wessex invites all States of Guernsey Deputies to the ASG hangar in Guernsey, to view its Islanders and a new Tecnam P2012 aircraft, which it claims to own. The Tecnam is in fact owned by Orien Aviation, wholly owned by Edwin Brenninkmeyer. Mr Brenninkmeyer has no financial connections to Wessex Aviation.
November 2022 – drops plans to operate Trislander.

[Letsflycwl]

Was looking on the Dan Air Facebook page and can see on a picture within an inflight magazine route map that Dan Air did operate SWS-JER……anyone know what type of aircraft ? Was this the HS-748 or Viscount ?

[Sotonsean]

Was looking on the Dan Air Facebook page and can see on a picture within an inflight magazine route map that Dan Air did operate SWS-JER……anyone know what type of aircraft ? Was this the HS-748 or Viscount ?
​​​​​​
I've found this post really interesting and it made me look at Google images and there are many nostalgic photos of Swansea including a Dan Air Nord 62 amongst others. Check them out as your find some great images. Google images is always my first port of call when searching images online.

[BACsuperVC10]

Don't forget Air Corbiere who flew a schedule down to Jersey.

That takes me back, I do remember Air Corbiere, because I flew with them from Liverpool to Guernsey via Coventry. They had an interesting network, including Gloucester too, I don't recall Swansea, but I'm sure you're correct.

[bravoromeosierra]

That Sun article:

The airport has just two terminals and two hangers.

Does anyone know which terminal the business class lounge is and do they accept PriorityPass?

[TCAS FAN]

That Sun article:



Does anyone know which terminal the business class lounge is and do they accept PriorityPass?

LOL! It also has two short and narrow runways - and two parachute landing areas!

[kcockayne]

Was looking on the Dan Air Facebook page and can see on a picture within an inflight magazine route map that Dan Air did operate SWS-JER……anyone know what type of aircraft ? Was this the HS-748 or Viscount ?
They used the Viscount , but may have used the 748 at times. The service was summer only & ceased in the early 80s.
Aero Mad certainly summed up Air Alderney’s “performance” totally correctly. It appears to me that they are a complete shower - although, there was a time (at the presentation to the Guernsey States) when I thought that they might be getting their act together. I’m back to my previous opinion of them now.

[Sotonsean]

Was looking on the Dan Air Facebook page and can see on a picture within an inflight magazine route map that Dan Air did operate SWS-JER……anyone know what type of aircraft ? Was this the HS-748 or Viscount ?

Just a couple of examples found on Google images, taken in 1972. I couldn't find any images of a Dan-Air Viscount at Swansea but I'm sure there are some around, it's just a case of searching.

Anyone interested in the former Dan-Air should be aware of this excellent site,

www.danairremembered.com (www.danairrembered.com)

Edit... for some reason the link doesn't work even though I've tried several times. I suggest just typing it in the search engine to obtain access to the site.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1800x1145/ac1674346194001612759_eb4b3009aa7c84f2a6429e333d6877a47215c9 cd.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1023x612/32364557937_9122040e86_b_aab38a1ec3ca30e678cad0209ac56d43a33 be48e.jpg

[BACsuperVC10]

Just a couple of examples found on Google images, taken in 1972. I couldn't find any images of a Dan-Air Viscount at Swansea but I'm sure there are some around, it's just a case of searching.

Anyone interested in the former Dan-Air should be aware of this excellent site,

www.danairremembered.com (www.danairrembered.com)

Edit... for some reason the link doesn't work even though I've tried several times. I suggest just typing it in the search engine to obtain access to the site.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1800x1145/ac1674346194001612759_eb4b3009aa7c84f2a6429e333d6877a47215c9 cd.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1023x612/32364557937_9122040e86_b_aab38a1ec3ca30e678cad0209ac56d43a33 be48e.jpg
Nice photos, reminded me of Dan Air's Lydd operations.

[SWBKCB]

That Sun article:

Does anyone know which terminal the business class lounge is and do they accept PriorityPass?

But nobodies picked up on the "two hangers" - Pprune's changed...

[UnderASouthernSky]

But nobodies picked up on the "two hangers" - Pprune's changed...

Are we allowed to pick up on "nobodies"?

[TCAS FAN]

Was looking on the Dan Air Facebook page and can see on a picture within an inflight magazine route map that Dan Air did operate SWS-JER……anyone know what type of aircraft ? Was this the HS-748 or Viscount ?

Believe that Dan Air never operated Viscounts. However I believe that Cambrian Airways did operate their Viscount 700s into Swansea in the 1960s.

[SWBKCB]

Are we allowed to pick up on "nobodies"?

Aviation content! :ok:

Believe that Dan Air never operated Viscounts.

Dan Air definitely operated Viscounts, presumably you mean into Swansea?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/swbkcb/4411159279/

[TCAS FAN]

But nobodies picked up on the "two hangers" - Pprune's changed...

Did notice this together with post 37's, but was convulsed in laughter by the humorous post.

[TCAS FAN]

Aviation content! :ok:



Dan Air definitely operated Viscounts, presumably you mean into Swansea?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/swbkcb/4411159279/

Thank you for correcting me, no Viscounts shown on a fleet list that I recently read. My understanding is that only Cambrian's Viscounts operated into Swansea.

[Airbanda]

I have a copy of Airline Publication and Sales 'UK and Eire Commercial Airports' published in 1974. It refers to a seasonal service to Jersey operated by Dan Air from Swansea Fairwood Common using the 748 together with charter operations by Alidair (Viscount) and BIA (Herald).

Viscounts, both 700 and 800 series, flew in Dan Air colours in the early eighties. Not sure whether they were owned/operated by Dan Air or on some sort of lease agreement.

Jersey was, until perhaps the nineties, a very popular destination with multiple flights on Summer weekends as both schedule and IT charter services from all main airports, at least in England and Wales.

Swansea, along with other places like Coventry and Gloucester/Cheltenham that no longer have scheduled services at all had summer flights to Jersey. Going back to the fifties even Northampton Sywell had a (DC3) service to Jersey.

[kcockayne]

Thank you for correcting me, no Viscounts shown on a fleet list that I recently read. My understanding is that only Cambrian's Viscounts operated into Swansea.
I was an ATCO at Jersey at the time, & DAN definitely operated Viscounts to Swansea. If I remember correctly, one was G-ARIR & another was G-BCZR. I have several photos of the 800.

[kcockayne]

I have a copy of Airline Publication and Sales 'UK and Eire Commercial Airports' published in 1974. It refers to a seasonal service to Jersey operated by Dan Air from Swansea Fairwood Common using the 748 together with charter operations by Alidair (Viscount) and BIA (Herald).

Viscounts, both 700 and 800 series, flew in Dan Air colours in the early eighties. Not sure whether they were owned/operated by Dan Air or on some sort of lease agreement.

Jersey was, until perhaps the nineties, a very popular destination with multiple flights on Summer weekends as both schedule and IT charter services from all main airports, at least in England and Wales.

Swansea, along with other places like Coventry and Gloucester/Cheltenham that no longer have scheduled services at all had summer flights to Jersey. Going back to the fifties even Northampton Sywell had a (DC3) service to Jersey.
DAN also used the Viscount on Carlisle - Jersey services; for a short while.

[Letsflycwl]

So in theory the runway at SWS can cope with the modern ATR 42, ATR 72 & Dash 8 then.

I’ve also seen a BAe 146 and Hercules on the ground there back in the 80’s but that was RAF movements.

Be interesting to see what aircraft / airline we will see but got to say the publicity from this announcement has been pretty good !!

[kcockayne]

After DAN ended their Swansea service, EXS (Channel Express) took it over using Heralds for a couple of years. I can't remember when the route was abandoned altogether, but I'm guessing around the mid/late 80s.

[LTNman]

I am thinking nothing has been spent on Swansea for years, as it just doesn’t have the income.

Going to Company House and looking up the accounts makes for an interesting read.

[davidjohnson6]

It's been a week since Swansea airport posted about a new airline. Is there a date when the name of the airline, the destination or a route start date will be revealed ?

[SWBKCB]

The destination is named in the FB post at #1 (it's Exeter) as is the start date (end of March). Air Alderney feature on the front page of their website - anybody else would be a surprise.

[TCAS FAN]

It's been a week since Swansea airport posted about a new airline. Is there a date when the name of the airline, the destination or a route start date will be revealed ?

Unless it’s adhoc charters, ie an air taxi service, it’s not going to happen any time soon, my post 8 explains why.

Having been financially burnt badly once putting in the infrastructure to support operation of scheduled flights by Air Wales, Roy Thomas is not about to do it again.

[SWBKCB]

With no ATC, no navaids, no Instrument Approach Procedures and South Wales weather, quite apart from no functional terminal building, appears to a bit of a premature announcement, 1st April still two plus months away.

From a regulatory point of view, could a service be operated using Islanders without these? Thinking of Loganair's operation in the islands. Agree the whole idea looks commercially improbable but what are the legal requirements?

[TCAS FAN]

From a regulatory point of view, could a service be operated using Islanders without these? Thinking of Loganair's operation in the islands. Agree the whole idea looks commercially improbable but what are the legal requirements?

You are perhaps referring to Barra. Using that as an example the minimum requirement to ensure some sort of flight regulatory (allowing for South Wales' weather record), while not strictly a legal requirement, there would need to be AFIS (in lieu of ATC) and RNP instrument approach procedures (in lieu of ground based navaids), neither of which are currently available at SWS. The capital expenditure to provide both and secure regulatory approval IMHO well in excess of £60K. The time scale to provide both 3+ months?

The other problem is the level of security required by law, related.to screening of passengers and baggage. Add to that the staffing required to provide it, and the mandatory screening of staff by national government to obtain security clearance. None of these currently available and would take many months and considerable capital expenditure to put in place.

Finally the Rescue Fire Fighting category currently available is up to A2 with A3 on Remission. Same as Barra so max size aircraft would be a Twin Otter.

[davidjohnson6]

So the idea of a route happening in March is nothing more than somebody's wet dream ?

[SWBKCB]

You are perhaps referring to Barra.

I was thinking more about the Islander routes in the Orkeneys. Is there an exemption from the securtiy requirements for flights under a certain number of seats. 18/19?

[TCAS FAN]

So the idea of a route happening in March is nothing more than somebody's wet dream ?

Would certainly look that way.

If Messrs Air Alderney are involved its similar to a stunt that they pulled a year or so ago, when it was announced that they were going to start operations into "Solent Airport" (ie Lee-on-Solent) a GA aerodrome,just down the road from Southampton, in competition with the Alderney/Southampton route which Aurigny operate.

.While Lee has AFIS, it does not have instrument approach procedures or passenger handling/processing facilities, but is in an infinitely better state of repair than SWS!

[TCAS FAN]

I was thinking more about the Islander routes in the Orkeneys. Is there an exemption from the securtiy requirements for flights under a certain number of seats. 18/19?

Couldn't answer that, but from what I saw at Gloucester a few years ago when they had a LET 410 schedule from/to IOM there appeared to be full passenger screening facilities.

[Aero Mad]

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/15529311.plans-unveiled-to-offer-domestic-flights-from-solent-airport/

Swansea was actually mentioned as a potential destination from Lee-on-Solent in 2017. The services never began.

I gather that Air Alderney unfortunately only discovered Daedalus didn't have instrument approaches after it had made the announcement that it was to begin scheduled flights - just as it announced scheduled Alderney route before investigating whether there would be a spare check-in desk available. There wasn't; five years on, still no scheduled flights.

[jensdad]

Couldn't answer that, but from what I saw at Gloucester a few years ago when they had a LET 410 schedule from/to IOM there appeared to be full passenger screening facilities.
I've been on a few inter-island flights in Orkney and, to my knowledge there are no physical passenger screening requirements at all. Might be some electronic checks on your criminal record etc. but nothing physical. Last time I flew out of one of the outer island airports I don't think I even set foot in the terminal, just gave my name and walked through the gate (literally, a five bar gate in the 4-foot-high airfield wall) to the aircraft.
EDITED TO ADD: Not sure if this is relevant, but airfield security seems to be less regulated at airfields only served by sub-approx-20-passengers flights. At Scilly, St Mary's (as at outer island airports in Orkney) there is no physical barrier to walking on to the airfield from the approach road.

[Aero Mad]

I believe the regulation is that there is no requirement on 19 seats or fewer. The problem is that if you wish to deposit passengers at a screened area at the destination, they must be screened to an equal level. So AA would probably need to use a portacabin at Exeter rather than the main terminal unless full security were to be in place at Swansea. The same arrangement is in place at Islay ('terminal 2') for Hebridean Air Services' flights to Colonsay and Oban. Mssrs Brem-Wilson, who run AA, tend to deride this sort of thing as 'bureaucracy', so maybe they intend to surmount it.

[TCAS FAN]

I believe the regulation is that there is no requirement on 19 seats or fewer. The problem is that if you wish to deposit passengers at a screened area at the destination, they must be screened to an equal level. So AA would probably need to use a portacabin at Exeter rather than the main terminal unless full security were to be in place at Swansea. The same arrangement is in place at Islay ('terminal 2') for Hebridean Air Services' flights to Colonsay and Oban. Mssrs Brem-Wilson, who run AA, tend to deride this sort of thing as 'bureaucracy', so maybe they intend to surmount it.

Thank you I think that's a very plausible explanation.

If any operator is crazy enough to commence flights at SWS in the immediate future, are they going to fund the destination portakabin (s)?

[639]

As the song goes...don't believe the hype

[Fairdealfrank]

Would have thought that Cardiff would have been a better option, all the required infrastructure is already there.

[simoncorbett]

It would appear that Anglesey airport are selling everything needed for Swansea to become a passenger airport again, they are selling off security scanners check in facilities etc

[TCAS FAN]

It would appear that Anglesey airport are selling everything needed for Swansea to become a passenger airport again, they are selling off security scanners check in facilities etc

More chance that Croydon will re-open for PAX flights.

[jon01]

Oh dear:
Swansea Airport has had its licence suspended (https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/swansea-airport-licence-council-suspended-26249176?utm_source=wales_online_newsletter&utm_campaign=breaking_swansea_online_newsletter2&utm_medium=email&pure360.trackingid=%7B%7ETrackingId%7E%7D)

[TCAS FAN]

Oh dear:
Swansea Airport has had its licence suspended (https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/swansea-airport-licence-council-suspended-26249176?utm_source=wales_online_newsletter&utm_campaign=breaking_swansea_online_newsletter2&utm_medium=email&pure360.trackingid=%7B%7ETrackingId%7E%7D)

Yep, my money is still on Croydon restarting PAX flights before Swansea does!

[639]

Same old, they should have taken the lease off the current holder 10 years ago

[TCAS FAN]

See from the latest batch of AIP Supplements that the Aerodrome Licence is still suspended and is so "UFN"..

How bad is the state of the aerodrome and/or management of it?

[Mike Flynn]

What about Trevors Skyway lounge😀

[davidjohnson6]

Take back control seems to be a catchy line...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66964350

[TartinTon]

Interesting picture of Swansea's "runway". Always enjoyed a rollercoaster ride....