23 September 2025
Swansea Airport has been granted a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) operating licence thanks to the efforts of a volunteer-run social enterprise that has kept the airfield alive for the past year.
The Swansea Airport Stakeholders’ Alliance – a not-for-profit group formed by users of the airfield in 2021 – took over the site in September 2024 on a short-term lease from Swansea Council. Since then, its members have logged more than 17,500 volunteer hours, undertaking improvements to the runway, fire service and air/ground radio, as well as putting compliant systems in place to satisfy CAA requirements.
Alliance chairman Bob Oliver MBE paid tribute to the volunteers’ work, saying, “Our vision is for a vibrant and welcoming GA aerodrome that sits sympathetically in its landscape, ecology and community, which respects the heritage of the site, promotes biodiversity and sustainability and delivers a social programme that supports local communities.”
The airport – formerly RAF Fairwood Common – covers 450 acres within the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Alliance says it aims not only to safeguard general aviation at the site but also to develop wider social, economic and environmental programmes, including youth engagement, internships, and biodiversity initiatives.
Volunteers at work at Swansea Airport
The immediate future of Swansea Airport remains uncertain, however. The Alliance’s current lease expires in March 2026, and a decision from Swansea Council on the airport’s long-term future is expected in October. The group says securing a longer lease will be essential to attract investment, partners and grant funding.
Despite the challenges, the Alliance is upbeat. It points to competitive fuel and hangarage prices, unrestricted airspace, and positive feedback from visiting pilots as reasons to put Swansea back on the GA map.
“We’ve proved we can run a safe and compliant operation,” Oliver added. “Now we want to build on that foundation and ensure Swansea has an airport that serves both the aviation community and the wider region.”
