Spencer Birns, the CEO of Cardiff Airport in Wales has resigned with immediate effect. No official reason has been given for the sudden departure other than Birns wanting to “pursue other opportunities.” A non-executive director has been appointed in the interim until a new chief executive is appointed.
Birns took on the role at the helm of the airport in 2020 after serving as the airport’s Commercial Director. To help diversify revenue for the airport he had diversified into the cargo sector with the airport confirmed at the end of last year to be operating as a base for a regular air freight service between China and Wales.
Birns’ departure sparks fresh criticism over the Welsh Government’s management of the publicly owned airport, which has seen a slow recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic. The airport has also faced stiff competition in attracting airlines due to its proximity to nearby Bristol Airport.
The airport was purchased by the Welsh Government in 2013 for GBP52 million, spending GBP181 million on it in total and has continually relied on public funding to stay afloat. According to several reports Andrew Davies Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central and former Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said Birns’ departure amounted to a “vote of no confidence” in the airport’s current ownership and direction.
“Spencer Birns has always done his best at Cardiff Airport, where facilities are second to none, but the lack of direction from Welsh Government has led to a non-return of airlines and a brutal decline in passenger numbers,” Davies said. He also reiterated that the resignation of Birns is likely to add to growing calls for either privatisation or a new management structure at the regional airport.
In recent weeks the airport had seen an uptick in connectivity. Earlier this month it announced that the Spanish carrier, Vueling, was increasing its frequencies to and from Malaga in the summer months, while tour operator Crystal Ski said it was expanding its network from Cardiff for the winter 2025/26 season adding flights to Salzburg following the success of its links to Chambery, which had performed “extremely well.”
While a successor to Birns has yet to be named, the search for new leadership is already underway.
