Cardiff Airport - General Thread

[Nuffsaid]

This is great news! What does Natasha Ashgar have to say about this? Has anybody at the Senedd pointed out to this individual that airports are crucial for inward investment whether that is domestic or foreign investment. Regions without airports remain economically constrained and generally backward. As a Conservative surely she would know that.

 

[fly4gigs]

This is great news! What does Natasha Ashgar have to say about this? Has anybody at the Senedd pointed out to this individual that airports are crucial for inward investment whether that is domestic or foreign investment. Regions without airports remain economically constrained and generally backward. As a Conservative surely she would know that.

She's just a nepo baby.

 

[MJC73]

Great news about the cargo operation. Hopefully it will lead to more and then WG commit to opening the lanes between Five Mile Lane and J33!

 

[Jerry]

This is great news! What does Natasha Ashgar have to say about this? Has anybody at the Senedd pointed out to this individual that airports are crucial for inward investment whether that is domestic or foreign investment. Regions without airports remain economically constrained and generally backward. As a Conservative surely she would know that.

I'm sure she would say it's good news and then criticise the Welsh government someway!

 

[geoff]

Now that CWL has a cargo based airline, does anyone feel that Aston Martin may export their vehicles to China via CWL, they do sell a lot of their vehicles in China, and it would certainly help the loads travelling in an easterly direction, and it is only a few miles up the road to their factory.

 

[Jarvo]

What I'm missing so far is where this route will be going to in China. Everything says between CWL and China, China is a big country. Is it a scheduled flight between cwl and a freight hub airport or is it more of an ad hoc to whichever airport in China there's demand, more of a freight charter?

Now that CWL has a cargo based airline, does anyone feel that Aston Martin may export their vehicles to China via CWL, they do sell a lot of their vehicles in China, and it would certainly help the loads travelling in an easterly direction, and it is only a few miles up the road to their factory.

Absolutely minimal sense in flying vehicles, the weight and fact they're a non perishable item would make it a huge expense for minimal reward. What would make sense is niche parts being moved that may be time sensitive for production lines or high value repairs.

 

[Jerry]

Now that CWL has a cargo based airline, does anyone feel that Aston Martin may export their vehicles to China via CWL, they do sell a lot of their vehicles in China, and it would certainly help the loads travelling in an easterly direction, and it is only a few miles up the road to their factory.

No they'll go by ship, its possible parts could be flown in via the route.

What I'm missing so far is where this route will be going to in China. Everything says between CWL and China, China is a big country. Is it a scheduled flight between cwl and a freight hub airport or is it more of an ad hoc to whichever airport in China there's demand, more of a freight charter?

I suppose depends on the contract but looking at Bournemouth. Chengdu, Urumqi and Haikou seem to be the main destinations but they also fly into Vienna and Paris from them as well. There must be a regular contract involved for them to do this but could be anything from export to import.

 

[Samdorob]

What I'm missing so far is where this route will be going to in China. Everything says between CWL and China, China is a big country. Is it a scheduled flight between cwl and a freight hub airport or is it more of an ad hoc to whichever airport in China there's demand, more of a freight charter?


Absolutely minimal sense in flying vehicles, the weight and fact they're a non perishable item would make it a huge expense for minimal reward. What would make sense is niche parts being moved that may be time sensitive for production lines or high value repairs.

Looking on flight radar there is a flight on the 17th and 18th for Urumqi. That’s not to say that’s the only destination, just an observation.

 

[geoff]

Does anyone know about the Moscow flight shown on CWL departure board as SU1234, every afternoon Mon-Thursday this week. Is it a technical hitch or some other kind of mistake.

 

[MJC73]

It's classified.

 

[geoff]

An article in Wales on Line, and Business Live, concerning the proposed investment of £200 million over a period of 10 years. It is reported that Bristol Airport is "Deeply C0ncerned" by the investment which it states that CWL does not need the money, as BRS already contributes to the Welsh economy by employing people who reside in South Wales. It also reports that the number of Welsh passengers using BRS in 2023 was 1.96 million, out of a total of 9.8 million. The CMA has now asked for further details on the submission by CWL. It looks as though the submission by CWL is going to drag on for some time.

 

[Jerry]

An article in Wales on Line, and Business Live, concerning the proposed investment of £200 million over a period of 10 years. It is reported that Bristol Airport is "Deeply C0ncerned" by the investment which it states that CWL does not need the money, as BRS already contributes to the Welsh economy by employing people who reside in South Wales. It also reports that the number of Welsh passengers using BRS in 2023 was 1.96 million, out of a total of 9.8 million. The CMA has now asked for further details on the submission by CWL. It looks as though the submission by CWL is going to drag on for some time.

I generally don't know how they've come to the conclusion that an airport doesn't need investment especially a struggling one like Cardiff considering as well that their owners have pumped in £100s of millions over the year's. There's no doubt that BRS employs people living in Wales but that's very different to contributing to the Welsh economy by supporting actual jobs and businesses and economic activity in Wales and being a direct gateway for businesses, trade and tourism to Wales. Bristol seems to treat Cardiff like its a major threat to its very survival when its plainly not. Bristol does 10x the passenger numbers and will always be well ahead of Cardiff.

And just to add to this.
In 2013 Bristol passenger numbers were 6.1 million. Cardiffs was 1 million.
In 2019 Bristol saw 8.9 million passengers Cardiff 1.6 million.
In 6 years Cardiff grew by 600,000 Bristol 2.8 million.
2023 Bristol saw 9.9 million passengers Cardiff 838,574.

 

[geoff]

£200 million over 10 years is peanuts when what is being invested into CWL, only today Stanstead announced a 1.1 Billion investment at their airport. I just don't understand what BRS has got to worry about.

 

[MJC73]

They need to quieten down a bit. They seem very needy and insecure. Whilst it is a rancid experience flying from there, even if the 1.96M went from Cardiff they'd still turn a profit.

 

[Jerry]

I just don't understand what BRS has got to worry about.

Neither do I. Even if CWL expands back to 1.6 million passengers Bristol is still going to be a busy vibrant airport. Unless it has unheard of plans for cargo and MRO then that side of the business isn't going to effect it. On the passenger side what's the likely target's for CWL?
A 4th TUI, Ryanair expansion with a possible base return of the overnight aircraft for KLM, return of Qatar Airways, Loganair daily on Edinburgh.

even if the 1.96M went from Cardiff they'd still turn a profit.

But that's the thing the 1.96 million won't stop using Bristol it'll continue to grow.

 

[geoff]

I agree with your targets Jerry, both TUI and FR have very little competition at CWL, and are going to find slots harder to come by at BRS in future.

 

[Jerry]

I agree with your targets Jerry, both TUI and FR have very little competition at CWL, and are going to find slots harder to come by at BRS in future.

I'm sure Ryanair will expand at Bristol. TUI maybe different but I suspect any lack of expansion there is due to intense competition from Jet2 and Easyjet holidays.

 

[Jarvo]

The arrivals on FR24 do look quite interesting at Urumqi

 

[Jerry]

Some good comments in the article.
I suspect that this is going to rumble on.

'Cardiff is a joy to fly from' say passengers as Bristol objects to subsidy

Bristol Airport has voiced its "deep concern" over the Welsh Government's plan to provide more than £200 million in subsidy support to its competitor, Cardiff Airport.

www.walesonline.co.uk

 

[Aviador]

Whichever way you look at it you have to consider if the money will enable the airport to become a success? If you say 1.96 million passengers using BRS were from Wales, would those passengers have enabled CWL to be a profitable business, or at least a sustainable one. To use Liverpool airport as an example, the owners of Liverpool airport only reported a profit after the airport surpassed 4mppa. That would be a huge task for CWL is that is the sort of passenger traffic growth to enable it to be successful.