Cardiff: Route Development & Rumours

[geoff]

I agree, there doesn't seem to be much interest from any of the ministers other than Ken Skates the Transport Minister, but they have taken responsibility off him and given it to the economy minister. I think that after the Senedd election next year, I think a percentage or whole of the airport will be offered to one of the large investment institutions, because for the first time since devolution, I don't think labour will be in power.

 

[Jerry]

, I think a percentage or whole of the airport will be offered to one of the large investment institutions, because for the first time since devolution, I don't think labour will be in power

Well the polling suggests either a Reform led government or a Plaid Cymru led government. Reform would probably sell it though I'm sure some of their supporters would be happy to see it closed.
Plaid Cymru I can't see them selling it maybe some investors but their economic policy focuses around an economy centred around Welsh owned business and keeping the profits in Wales. So it would be contrary to that if they sold some of it to a foreign investor.
Labour since Mark Drakeford have seemed happy for the airport to exist but of course ready to take any credit for any success!

I got the impression it was a joint venture between CWL and QR, and WG & the Qatari Government over promoting Wales,

I'm pretty sure marketing agreement was between Qatar Airways and the Welsh government.

Marketing partnership agreement with Qatar Airways will raise Wales’ profile globally | GOV.WALES

The agreement will increase Wales’ visibility in key markets as a holiday and business destination.

www.gov.wales

 

[fly4gigs]

CDG is missed.

 

[Jerry]

CDG is missed.

Yes it is but hopefully we'll see it return.

 

[MJC73]

A Paris flight would be massively helpful in early December as Cardiff Rugby are playing Stade Francais!

 

[geoff]

We didn't have many Regional rugby team flights for the teams or their supporters last season. The WRU are watching the pennies, there is more trouble off the field than on.

 

[Qing4theloo]

I see Vueling are ending their service from BHX to Barcelona in October. Partly (I'd imagine) because of competition from Easyjet, Jet2 and Ryanair on the same route.
They've had quite a long and apparently good relationship with CWL. I wonder if they'd be interested in trying a service from CWL to BCN instead?
Barcelona, as well as being a tourist destination, has onward flights to North and South America. Not a massive market, I know, but one nevertheless.

 

[Nuffsaid]

BCN was run by Vueling quite some time ago (also Ryanair). Not many people know about their onwards connections from BCN. It’s an extensive network covering much of Europe. You don’t even have to buy through ticketing. Buy separate tickets for each destination and you save quite a bit.

 

[Jerry]

They've had quite a long and apparently good relationship with CWL. I wonder if they'd be interested in trying a service from CWL to BCN instead?

I'd have thought if they were going to bring it back they'd have done so by now.

 

[Samdorob]

I'd have thought if they were going to bring it back they'd have done so by now.

Say if they wanted to, I can only imagine aircraft availability and slot restrictions at BCN might have been stopping them. It is a route I’d like to see them bring back.

The route does come up as a promotional slide on my Vueling app. It doesn’t have any dates when you click through, so I think it’s just from when they used to run it. PMI is the same.

 

[Jerry]

Say if they wanted to, I can only imagine aircraft availability and slot restrictions at BCN might have been stopping them. It is a route I’d like to see them bring back.

The route does come up as a promotional slide on my Vueling app. It doesn’t have any dates when you click through, so I think it’s just from when they used to run it. PMI is the same.

It would be good to see them bring back both Barcelona and Mallorca. They are destinations Cardiff needs to see returned (LCC option for PMI) but whether they have the aircraft, slots or will only they know. Barcelona as well would be a potential inbound route as well.

 

[Jerry]

I delved back into the archives and found this article from 2018 about Ken Skates proposal for PSO routes to the UK government. I find it noticeable that he's not seemed to have gone back to that for Cardiff Airport this time especially as the airport has lost the likes of Glasgow and Edinburgh now. In fact I find it noticeable that there doesn't seem any pressure on the UK government to devolve APD anymore or PSOs. Edinburgh would definitely be a contender for one now.

Cardiff Airport to Manchester among plans for new UK city routes

Subsidised routes also being explored include those to Norwich and Inverness and Leeds

www.walesonline.co.uk

 

[Jerry]

Good to see Cardiff Airport team attending World Routes 2025 and representing Wales. I saw a social media post of them flying out via Amsterdam by looks of it. Hopefully they stopped and had a chat with KLM! The photo did look like it could've been taken landside.
View attachment 32847

 

[Jerry]

A look at Cardiff Airport stand at World Routes 2025
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7377099664015216640
View attachment 32863

 

[geoff]

It's good to see the CWL management at such a big event, let's hope it brings some positive results.

 

[Jerry]

Maybe it's just me but the whole stand seems to be just a Cardiff Airport stand there doesn't seem to be any VisitWales or Welsh government logos or presence. Obviously the photos have a limited perspective but I'd have thought there'd be some sort of collaboration with VisitWales at least.

 

[Barry Man]

At least they are there unlike TBI who’s attitude was WE don’t go to airlines they come to us ,I had this off the marketing manager at the time when I asked him if they were going to attend . My thoughts were that’s going to be very helpful in the future for the airport , things like this stick in the minds of airline executives.

 

[Jerry]

At least they are there unlike TBI who’s attitude was WE don’t go to airlines they come to us ,I had this off the marketing manager at the time when I asked him if they were going to attend . My thoughts were that’s going to be very helpful in the future for the airport , things like this stick in the minds of airline executives.

Yep Cardiff is an airport that can't really adopt that sort of attitude it needs to put itself out there and that includes events like this.

 

[Barry Man]

As can be seen now under the ownership of the Welsh Government they are now attending these events, TBI’s attitude was as I said airlines come to them which I think under the ownership of TBI didn’t make themselves very accommodating to airlines which has left this legacy of being unable to attract airlines .I think a lot of airlines look back at the time when TBI owned the airport and found how unresponsive they were towards the airline industry.
(They had another other ideas about the airport ) That’s just my thoughts whilst working there at the time and saw how things were panning out .

 

[Jerry]

As can be seen now under the ownership of the Welsh Government they are now attending these events, TBI’s attitude was as I said airlines come to them which I think under the ownership of TBI didn’t make themselves very accommodating to airlines which has left this legacy of being unable to attract airlines .I think a lot of airlines look back at the time when TBI owned the airport and found how unresponsive they were towards the airline industry.
(They had another other ideas about the airport ) That’s just my thoughts whilst working there at the time and saw how things were panning out .

TBI were before my time as an enthusiast but I do wonder if Cardiffs capital city status gave them a bit of arrogance and the fact that passenger numbers were more closer to 2 million than they are now leading to a bit of complacency i wonder? Plus these events cost money something TBI may have been reluctant to spend.
It's noticeable from the stand that the airport team seem to be advertising Wales as a destination and place to do business just as much Cardiff Airport itself.