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Plans for a return of commercial flights at Swansea Airport have been revealed by entrepreneur Martin Morgan who said he is now looking for investors to make it a reality.

Mr Morgan, the owner of 20-branch The Travel House, is creating a consortium of local organisations, including the university, council, businesses and sports clubs, to support his plans.

The airport no longer has any scheduled commercial flights, but was one the base for Air Wales.

Speaking to Travel Weekly Mr Morgan, who is also a director of Swansea City FC said: "Swansea is the UK's 25th largest city. The airport has 300 acres of land, which could be developed.

"It has a 1,472-metre runway that could take regional aircraft, yet it doesn't have any regional flights.

"Any aircraft that flies into London City could fly into Swansea. So we will be approaching the likes of Flybe, for example, which has some smaller aircraft.

"Norwich, Exeter and Hull all have a regional airport and they are of a similar size to Swansea, so why shouldn't Swansea have one?"

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Mr Morgan also believes opening up Swansea airport would be beneficial to the areas sporting organisations such as Swansea City, the Ospreys and Scarlets.

He said: "Visiting teams have to fly into Cardiff and then it's more than an hour's drive to Swansea.

"I really believe this time there's a great opportunity [to turn Swansea into a regional airport]. But I'd rather do it as a consortium of business people as we will have more power together."

The airport currently handles only light helicopters, privately owned aircraft and the operations of the local parachute club.

Mr Morgan has previously attempted to develop the airport, where he bought the lease and had ambitious plans to upgrade the facilities, which include a terminal building with seats for just 25 passengers.

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However, he sold the majority of his interest in 2003 to Swansea Airport Limited, owned by Air Wales owner and director Roy Thomas, who was appointed chief executive of the airport company.

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Asked if turning Swansea into a regional airport would benefit his retail agency chain, Morgan said: "Potentially. If airlines offered flights to Dublin and Amsterdam, there could be some stag and hen party business."