British Airways' Big Bet on Cardiff Base

British Airways’ Major Investment in Cardiff Base

British Airways has announced a multimillion-pound investment in the engineering repair facility at Cardiff Airport. The proposed investment will increase one of three current maintenance bays at British Airways Maintenance Cardiff (BAMC) to accommodate larger long-haul A350 aircraft. When finished, BAMC will expand from one to two fully flexible bays, enabling more complicated and thorough maintenance work.

The planned upgrade will increase the airline's efficiency in maintenance operations by allowing the engineering base to accommodate more aircraft types. Currently, the base can only accommodate Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft types. This extension, part of the airline's £7 billion transformation initiative, is scheduled to commence in 2025 and be finished by 2026. The project demonstrates the airline's commitment to the long-term viability of its Cardiff operations, which employ 480 people and contribute significantly to the Welsh economy.

Andy Best, Chief Technical Officer at British Airways, said: “Our Welsh engineering base is an integral part of our maintenance operation, and this investment, as part of our wider maintenance strategy, will ensure that British Airways Engineering Wales continues to play a key role for many years to come. The expanded facility provides us with greater flexibility and control over our Heavy Maintenance activity on both the Boeing and Airbus long-haul fleets, ensuring more efficient planning and execution.”

Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Welsh Government, said: “This is very welcome news from British Airways, paving the way for further growth at their Cardiff site and its highly skilled workforce.

“This announcement once again demonstrates the vital role that Cardiff Airport plays in bringing investment into Wales and in growing our Aerospace Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul sector, where we see continued international interest”

This investment recognizes the airline's worldwide reputation for quality and reliability in aircraft maintenance. It acknowledges over 30 years of BAMC’s experience in this industry and will help build on that experience to continue delivering excellence in the future.