Archive Flybe at Cardiff Airport

[TheLocalYokel]

Nothing to do with loads that is for sure. If anything, all flights were very very busy, think it was just the Chambery which was low coming back for some reason but otherwise was a good day for loads.
We have crew from Swansea - Cardiff all the way up to the top of the Valleys and down into the Vale, some live nearly on top of a mountain, others are deep in the valleys, on farms.
Even the local crew who are down in Barry are struggling but things are improving.
One crew member had a scare this morning on the way to work and had to turn around, was just too risky to carry on, others sliding down the streets.
There are plans in place for tomorrow but we should all be back to near normal.
It is not something that any airline wants to do and we are all thinking about our customers but we have to remain safe ourselves too.
I'm kinda bored sat at home so will be grateful to actually fly tomorrow !!

Thank you for that input, Aerlad. Welcome to Forums4Airports. We hope to read more posts from you in future.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Nothing to do with loads that is for sure. If anything, all flights were very very busy, think it was just the Chambery which was low coming back for some reason but otherwise was a good day for loads.
We have crew from Swansea - Cardiff all the way up to the top of the Valleys and down into the Vale, some live nearly on top of a mountain, others are deep in the valleys, on farms.
Even the local crew who are down in Barry are struggling but things are improving.
One crew member had a scare this morning on the way to work and had to turn around, was just too risky to carry on, others sliding down the streets.
There are plans in place for tomorrow but we should all be back to near normal.
It is not something that any airline wants to do and we are all thinking about our customers but we have to remain safe ourselves too.
I'm kinda bored sat at home so will be grateful to actually fly tomorrow !!

Thank you for that input, Aerlad. Welcome to Forums4Airports. We hope to read more posts from you in future.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

Yes if crew live further way it would be an issue, i've seen 8ft snow drifts today even though it's raining and the snow is melting. Some villages are still cut off by the drifts believe it or not.

 

[Jerry]

Yes i can imagine it is hard for the crew to get in. I've had to take today and tomorrow off because I can't get out of my street.

 

[superking]

You have to think of crew that operate the aircraft not being able to get to airport. Also which ever airport they operateing to might be closed or very long delays.All staff at airports do a wonderfull job of clearing runways etc as its a very thank less task.

 

[CWL94]

It's great news that there is talk inside of BE about a 4th based aircraft coming to CWL Summer 2019, with new routes in Italy, Spain, Germany and UK being mentioned

FLYBE INVESTS IN A THIRD AIRCRAFT FOR CARDIFF

Flybe is to station an additional aircraft and recruit 22 new crew members at Cardiff Airport to support additional flights from South Wales.

The 88-seat Embraer 175 jet will be based at Cardiff with a local crew from 27 March.

The regional airline has operated two aircraft from Cardiff Airport since it opened a base there in 2015 with a forecast that it would create 50 new jobs. It now employs 62 staff at the airport in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The third jet will enable Flybe to serve new destinations, including Venice, and increase the frequency of flights on established routes.

Vince Hodder, Flybe’s chief strategy officer, said Flybe hoped to make further inroads into serving the 7.7 million people within a two hour drive of Cardiff Airport.

He said: "Ultimately, it comes down to the way the airport and Flybe work together to build routes. Working together, we can try different things and experiment."

The airline will consider flights to fresh destinations in Germany, Italy, Spain and the rest of the UK, Hodder told Insider.

He added: "We have already started planning for a fourth aircraft. It’s always nice to introduce a new aircraft at the start of the summer season.

"That could be summer next year, or the year after. It depends how the market absorbs the capacity we are adding in this year."

Flybe estimates this year's additional investment will be worth about £80m to the Welsh economy, based on multiplying direct spending by seven. The aircraft itself is worth about £29m.

This summer, Flybe will reach 17 destinations from Cardiff. The airline enjoyed a 130 per cent rise in passenger numbers to 43,000 through its Cardiff base in December 2017, compared to 19,000 in June 2015.

Hodder said the 62 jobs created directly by Flybe in Cardiff over the past three years had been accompanied by about 100 support and airport roles, and about 400 jobs in the wider economy.

Deb Barber, chief executive of Cardiff Airport, said: “The opening of Flybe’s base in 2015 played an important part in our journey of recovery and transformation.

"Today, it’s a key employer in the area, supporting a number of direct and indirect roles, which will be boosted with the arrival of the third aircraft, adding real value to the local economy in South Wales."
://www.insidermedia.com/insider/wales/flybe-invests-in-a-third-aircraft-for-cardiff

 

[aviatorconcorde]

I did come on here to post it but you got here before me!

We did pretty know most of this already. What's interesting is mention of a fourth aircraft and new "fresh" destinations.

Apart from INV, I can't see where else they could fly too in the UK?

 

[Jerry]

That's great news that they are looking at a 4th based aircraft as it shows confidence in the airport. Interesting as well that they mentioned Spain as possible new routes. Also France wasn't mentioned either.
UK wise Manchester could be possible but that would have to be 2 daily to work and if they could get a tie in with a tour operator Inverness would be probable.

What would be interesting is if they keep 1 E195 just for Cardiff as for holiday routes to Spain, Portugal and Italy it is a good size.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

That's great news that they are looking at a 4th based aircraft as it shows confidence in the airport. Interesting as well that they mentioned Spain as possible new routes. Also France wasn't mentioned either.
UK wise Manchester could be possible but that would have to be 2 daily to work and if they could get a tie in with a tour operator Inverness would be probable.

What would be interesting is if they keep 1 E195 just for Cardiff as for holiday routes to Spain, Portugal and Italy it is a good size.

I did think Manchester but not sure if it could compete with the train. I recently took arriva trains up to Manchester from Cardiff Central Station. It was about £23 booked in Advance. I wonder if flybe could really compete with that considering all you have to do is hop on the train and go.

One thing I think must be on CWLs radar is Ibiza. A 4th based aircraft would certainly allow a E195 to do this mission. Where else could flybe tackle in italy? Pisa or Bologna?

 

[Jerry]

I did think Manchester but not sure if it could compete with the train. I recently took arriva trains up to Manchester from Cardiff Central Station. It was about £23 booked in Advance. I wonder if flybe could really compete with that considering all you have to do is hop on the train and go.

Considering what happened with LCY then they be wary of going up against a train service again even one which isn't as quick as the London service.
From a personal perspective I'd love them to do LBA but I don't think it'll happen.

One thing I think must be on CWLs radar is Ibiza. A 4th based aircraft would certainly allow a E195 to do this mission. Where else could flybe tackle in italy? Pisa or Bologna?

With Spain i wouldn't be surprised if they had Alicante, Malaga, PMI and Ibiza on their radar maybe even Seville as well.
As for Italy Naples, Genoa, Pisa, Florence and Turin are all possibilities.
What intrigues me is that they mentioned new routes to Germany but the current ones have hardly been a great success so it'll be interesting to see what routes they have in mind.

 

[Bcn_boy]

Leeds would be a great addition although it would need a twice daily and not on an eject to make it workable

 

[aviatorconcorde]

Considering what happened with LCY then they be wary of going up against a train service again even one which isn't as quick as the London service.
From a personal perspective I'd love them to do LBA but I don't think it'll happen.

With Spain i wouldn't be surprised if they had Alicante, Malaga, PMI and Ibiza on their radar maybe even Seville as well.
As for Italy Naples, Genoa, Pisa, Florence and Turin are all possibilities.
What intrigues me is that they mentioned new routes to Germany but the current ones have hardly been a great success so it'll be interesting to see what routes they have in mind.

I think they'd maybe give Frankfurt or Hamburg a go with Germany. bmi regional fly to Frankfurt from Bristol but that flight wasn't exactly jam packed even on a E145. Although bmi regional tend to go after mainly Business travellers.

My prediction for growth will be from Italy by increasing frequencies on Rome and Venice (if Venice is a success) with the addition of some new Spanish destinations. I also think Nice would have potential moving forward if Flybe do look to france.

 

[Bcn_boy]

To make Frankfurt work they would need a codeshare with Lufthansa. That is the only way bmi can make it work from Bristol.

 

[Jerry]

If they look at Frankfurt then maybe they could look at a tie in with Lufthansa. They do have a tour operator that supports the Dusseldorf flight so maybe that tour operator may well do the same from other German airports.
I'd be surprised if Venice isn't a success but it will probably have a slight knock on effect on Verona I'd have thought. Rome is definitely a candidate to go 4 weekly with a 4th based aircraft.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

If they look at Frankfurt then maybe they could look at a tie in with Lufthansa. They do have a tour operator that supports the Dusseldorf flight so maybe that tour operator may well do the same from other German airports.
I'd be surprised if Venice isn't a success but it will probably have a slight knock on effect on Verona I'd have thought. Rome is definitely a candidate to go 4 weekly with a 4th based aircraft.

Why is Verona flown anyway? Isn't it for a tour operator?

I know venice and verona are in quite close proximity. Perhaps it may get to the stage where Verona will be rolled into the Venice flights?

Yes would be great to see Rome go 4 weekly. I think it would have the potential to go 5 weekly in the future Jerry.

 

[Jerry]

Why is Verona flown anyway? Isn't it for a tour operator?

It's a scheduled route but tour operators do use it for their Lakes and Mountains holidays. I can't see Verona being dropped as its good access for Lakes and Mountains holidays but I can see Venice being year round as it's more of city break route and during the summer is a cruise port as well.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

It's a scheduled route but tour operators do use it for their Lakes and Mountains holidays. I can't see Verona being dropped as its good access for Lakes and Mountains holidays but I can see Venice being year round as it's more of city break route and during the summer is a cruise port as well.

Ahh yes - I knew it was somewhat tour operator dependent.

Yes agreed about venice, hopefully the success with Rome can be replicated.

 

[Bcn_boy]

Naples would be an excellent addition as would Ibiza, Madrid and Nice. Maybe a dip into Lisbon? LBA and or Manchester are the only viable UK options.

Verona is doing well and is a very different market to Venice so it is unlikely to be affected.

 

[Jerry]

Madrid would be interesting especially if Iberia Express didn't return in 2019. I'd have thought that the airport would want them to continue that.
Spain is interesting i wonder if Flybe would look at a 2 weekly Palma de Mallorca on Wednesdays to replace TCXs dropped rotation and Saturdays to cover that day as there is no scheduled PM flight that day. Also 2 weekly for Alicante and Malaga would give those routes a good boost and if both operated on Saturday would provide the airport with scheduled double daily flights on those days.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

A couple of things I've picked up on from the article;
Vince Hodder, Flybe’s chief strategy officer, said Flybe hoped to make further inroads into serving the 7.7 million people within a two hour drive of Cardiff Airport.
I think this is the first time I've seen a figure like this mentioned, which shows the Airport and Airlines are branching out their target market.
He said: "Ultimately, it comes down to the way the airport and Flybe work together to build routes. Working together, we can try different things and experiment."
Whatever money the Airport can stump up whilst new routes are potentially loss making?
He added: "We have already started planning for a fourth aircraft. It’s always nice to introduce a new aircraft at the start of the summer season.
"That could be summer next year, or the year after. It depends how the market absorbs the capacity we are adding in this year."
That's quite an announcement to make, obviously more to if this year is successful, but still not a confirmation that a 4th aircraft will happen.
And most importantly;
The airline will consider flights to fresh destinations in Germany, Italy, Spain and the rest of the UK, Hodder told Insider.
I wouldn't be surprised if BE took over NCL and Eastern operated direct to ABZ. With T3 being a franchise of BE, I can't see the T3 pricing lasting with customers booking on BE's website. Technically it would be a fresh destination for BE if it's brought in house. I really can't see MAN working at all. There's an hourly train and with QR at CWL and LHR down the M4, I can't see what the attraction would be to fill a Q400 or E75 once or twice daily.
FRA could work if MUC is currently working for them. It would really show BE taking on BMI at BRS. HAM or STR maybe?
Spain is crying out for routes from CWL. Extra capacity on PMI, AGP and ALC, along with IBZ, MAH, VLC, MJV. There's also an open market for GIB since Monarchs demise.
Also very surprised no mention of France.
Positive news anyway! Still more to come for 2019 as far as i'm aware.