Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy is utterly shocked to learn that, following the £52m purchase of Cardiff Airport by the Welsh Government in 2013, Welsh Government shares in the airport are only worth £17.83m.
In response to a question to the Transport Secretary, Ken Skates MS, it was revealed that to date, the Welsh Government has invested £179.6m into the airport, with an additional £206m in subsidies anticipated over the next decade.
This all comes as the figures from 2023 show that there was a 2.4% decline compared to 2022 in passenger numbers. Additionally, there were 16,000 flights in and out of Cardiff International airport in 2023, a 15.6% decrease compared to 2022.
Commenting on the news, Janet said:
“This story continues to worsen. Not only have we learned that the Welsh Government plans to invest another £206m in subsidies despite falling passenger numbers, but now its value is only a fraction of what it was purchased for.
“The fact that the airport in only worth 10% of what is being pumped into it is also deeply concerning. I have previously expressed concerns that this endeavour would become a bottomless pit for taxpayers.
“We have already seen with Transport for Wales that reduced passenger revenue compared to projections has created a significant financial shortfall. In TfW’s case, this shortfall amounts to £100m.
“I am fearful that the Welsh Government does not possess sound business acumen and that these pet projects of Welsh Labour will end up costing the taxpayer tens, if not hundreds, of millions.
“At a time when my constituents are struggling with reliable rail services to and from the rest of Wales, and the Conwy Valley with its very limited services, and with community and council bus services being reduced across North Wales, the Welsh Government must reassess their priorities and start putting the people of Wales first.”
ENDS
Ar ôl i Lywodraeth Cymru brynu maes awyr Caerdydd am £52m nôl yn 2013, mae Janet Finch-Saunders, yr Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi syfrdanu o glywed mai dim ond £17.83m yw gwerth cyfranddaliadau'r Llywodraeth yn y maes awyr heddiw.
Mewn ymateb i gwestiwn i'r Ysgrifennydd Trafnidiaeth, Ken Skates AS, datgelwyd bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi buddsoddi £179.6m yn y maes awyr hyd yma, gyda disgwyl £200m yn ychwanegol mewn cymorthdaliadau dros y degawd nesaf.
Daw hyn i gyd wrth i'r ffigurau o 2023 ddangos bod nifer y teithwyr 2.4% yn is na 2022. Yn ogystal, roedd 16,000 o awyrennau wedi hedfan i mewn ac allan o faes awyr Rhyngwladol Caerdydd yn 2023, gostyngiad o 15.6% o'i gymharu â 2022.
Wrth sôn am y newyddion, dywedodd Janet:
“Mae'r stori hon yn mynd o ddrwg i waeth. Nid yn unig rydyn ni wedi dysgu bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu buddsoddi £200m arall mewn cymorthdaliadau er gwaethaf gostyngiad yn nifer y teithwyr, ond tydi'r maes awyr ond yn werth cyfran yr hyn a dalwyd i'w brynu.
“Mae'r ffaith bod y maes awyr dim ond yn werth 10% o'r hyn sy'n cael ei daflu ato hefyd yn peri pryder mawr. Dwi eisoes wedi mynegi pryderon y byddai'r fenter hon yn datblygu'n bydew diwaelod i drethdalwyr.
“Fel y gwelsom gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru, mae refeniw teithwyr is o'i gymharu â’r rhagamcanion wedi creu diffyg ariannol sylweddol. Yn achos TrC, mae'r diffyg hwn yn £100m.
“Dwi'n ofni nad oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru graffter busnes cadarn ac y bydd hoff brosiectau Llafur Cymru yn costio degau os nad cannoedd o filiynau i'r trethdalwr.
“Ar adeg pan mae fy etholwyr yn cael trafferth gyda gwasanaethau rheilffordd dibynadwy rhwng un pen o Gymru a'r llall, gwasanaeth cyfyngedig iawn ar lein Dyffryn Conwy a gwasanaethau bysiau cymunedol a chyngor yn cael eu cwtogi ledled y Gogledd, rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru ailasesu ei blaenoriaethau a dechrau rhoi pobl Cymru yn gyntaf.”
DIWEDD
