Andrew RT Davies has said people in Wales will be “shocked” by new findings that show the First Minister hasn’t visited Cardiff Airport since her appointment.
Ministerial engagements, which are published online, show that the First Minister has not once visited the Airport since she took office in August 2024.
It was also revealed in Written Questions submitted by Andrew RT Davies that Ken Skates, the Welsh Government’s transport secretary, has not visited the airport at all since his appointment either.
Cardiff Airport is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Welsh Government, and employs around 300 people directly, with thousands more working on-site.
Mr Davies previously said Labour Ministers in Cardiff Bay had “lost interest” in the Airport, which has received hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayer cash, after the Welsh Government’s economy secretary said she was not involved with negotiations to bring the Qatar Airways Doha air route back to Cardiff.
Qatar Airways began flying a route from Cardiff to Doha in 2018, but the route was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cardiff is now the only UK Airport where the route has not resumed, with flights back at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh.
The Welsh Government’s economy secretary has visited the Airport just once since she was appointed, and has met with the Chair of the Airport twice. The First Minister participated in one of those meetings.
The former Welsh Conservative Leader says this marks a change in the Welsh Government’s attitude to the Airport, arguing that they previously had a much more hands-on approach.
The Welsh Government had worked for several years to bring Qatar Airways to Cardiff initially, holding high-level ministerial meetings, and the then-First Minister Carwyn Jones playing a direct role in negotiations.
The news comes as the First Minister warned the that Welsh Government “cannot justify” keeping their offices open if people aren’t working onsite, with daily office attendance averaging 16% in March.
Andrew RT Davies MS, Senedd Member for South Wales Central and former Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said:
“People in Wales will be shocked to learn that neither the First Minister, nor her transport chief, have visited Cardiff Airport, which is a significant strategic transport asset and a large employer.
“In years gone by, you could barely get Ministers out of Cardiff Airport, but now it’s clear they have lost all interest.
“Taxpayers have put substantial investment into the Airport, and we want to see it become a success so it can serve our communities, grow our economy, and continue to provide jobs.
“There’s very little chance of that happening when the Welsh Government can’t seem to find the time to visit the site, or to roll their sleeves up in the fight to bring Qatar Airways back.
“Now that the Welsh Government has realised that home-working doesn’t cut the mustard, perhaps they should spend more time at Cardiff Airport so we can help that asset to flourish.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Photo of Andrew RT Davies at Cardiff Airport attached.
- Relevant Written Question responses attached.
- Relevant Ministerial Engagements spreadsheets attached.