South Wales Central Conservative MS Andrew RT Davies has called on Senedd ministers to explain the benefits a £205 million handout to Cardiff Airport has brought to the local economy.
The funding decision is set to go before a tribunal on Monday.
Mr Davies said a thriving airport would bring huge benefits to South Wales, but questioned if over £400 million of taxpayer funding had proven effective.
He warned a bottomless pit of money would not yield dividends without competent leadership.
He pointed to Senedd ministers’ admission they hadn’t met representatives from Qatar Airlines in the past eighteen months.
Cardiff is the only airport in Britain that has not seen Qatar Airlines flights resume post-Covid.
Mr Davies said:
“We all want to see a thriving airport, as it would bring huge benefits to the economy of South Wales.
“But competent leadership is a necessary ingredient to achieving that.
“You can throw all the money you like at a project, but without the correct strategic decisions being taken, that money will just go down the drain.
“Since they bought Cardiff Airport, Senedd ministers have spent over £400 million of taxpayers’ money on it.
“Given this level of investment, the Airport should be in a far better position than that it is in.”
ENDS
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