Serco has been awarded a five-year contract extension for provision of Air Traffic Control (ATC) services at Hawarden Airport in North Wales.

Hampshire-based Serco has been supporting Airbus’s operations at Hawarden for 25 years, providing the ATC service, undertaking the installation and maintenance of the essential equipment required to operate the airport, and ensuring all airport operations are conducted safely. It also oversees routine and unplanned maintenance and oversees the airport’s regulatory compliance.

Doug Umbers, managing director of Serco’s defence business, said: “We are proud that Serco has helped keep Hawarden Airport operating for the past 25 years. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic our Serco team at Hawarden Airport worked under personal pressure and professional challenges to deliver the output needed by our customer.

“Our ultimate aim was to ensure that Airbus [whose Broughton factory is at the airport] was able to meet its global supply chain commitments. As a result of the Serco team’s work at Hawarden Airport, Airbus was able to continue producing aircraft during the pandemic and increase production post pandemic.” 

Unique to Hawarden Airport is Airbus’ production of aircraft wings for its A320, A321, A350 and A330 aircraft which are then delivered to Final Assembly Line Toulouse on the Beluga transport fleet.

Image: Serco