Tuesday, March 29, 2022
Why is Labour Air still flying?
I am astonished that the expensive, polluting, climate-change-denying, Welsh Government subsidised air service between Cardiff and Anglesey is still alive and kicking.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats opposed this air service from the start and continue to criticise the millions of pounds of public money it is consuming, as well as the impact it has on our environment.
And yet, as the BBC reports, more than £2.1m has been paid to operator, Eastern Airways since the pandemic started, though no flights were operated. Over the past five financial years, more than £7.3m has been spent in subsidies.
Welsh Liberal Democrats leader Jane Dodds is quite right is saying that the service should be scrapped. She commented: "We're all used to doing meetings on Zoom and we're all now thinking a lot more about travel and climate change, so our view is that we shouldn't be renewing this contact."
And yet, as the BBC reports, more than £2.1m has been paid to operator, Eastern Airways since the pandemic started, though no flights were operated. Over the past five financial years, more than £7.3m has been spent in subsidies.
Welsh Liberal Democrats leader Jane Dodds is quite right is saying that the service should be scrapped. She commented: "We're all used to doing meetings on Zoom and we're all now thinking a lot more about travel and climate change, so our view is that we shouldn't be renewing this contact."
In truth though, the economic case for this air route has never stacked up, while in environmental terms it should have been a non-starter. Short-haul flights are some of the most polluting uses of our skies.
Surely, the irony is not lost on Welsh Government ministers, that they are cancelling by-passes and road schemes in the name of halting climate change, while wasting millions of pounds on an even bigger polluter.
Surely, the irony is not lost on Welsh Government ministers, that they are cancelling by-passes and road schemes in the name of halting climate change, while wasting millions of pounds on an even bigger polluter.
