The airport director remains fully accountable for anything that happens, even when they are on leave.

Julie Edge (Onchan) tabled a question in the House of Keys last week, asking Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker who held the operator’s licence when the director was on leave.

Mr Baker said the licence continued to be held by the airport director even during short-term and temporary absences, including annual leave.

’Licence-holder accountability is not delegated for those periods,’ he said. ’The airport director is accountable whether they are there or they are not there.’

He said the licence conditions mean the licence-holder does not need to be on site all time.

The licence-holder had to satisfy Civil Aviation Authority requirements, which would form part of the recruitment process to replace Ann Reynolds when she leaves the post later in the year.

Ms Edge expressed surprise at the arrangements.

’He basically said that we have an airport director that has to work 365 days of the year, 24/7,’ she said.

Mr Baker said: ’They have a management team to support them, starting with the deputy, cascading downwards. However, the buck still stops with the airport director, as it does with most business leaders.

’It does not mean that they have to be present 365 days a year.’

Chris Thomas (Douglas Central) asked whether the CAA had any issues with the arrangement or any other matter of airport operations but Mr Baker did not give a direct answer, citing the fact Mr Thomas’ query deviated from Ms Edge’s original question.

’The question was about when the airport director is on annual leave,’ the minister said.

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