Cardiff Airport - General Thread

[TheLocalYokel]

Citywing is not an airline of course. It's really a booking agency (Isle of Man based) that uses partner carriers to operate its flights although the passenger's contract is with Citywing, except on the Cardiff-Anglesey route.

Although Citywing acts as a booking agency for Cardiff-Anglesey its website makes it clear that the passenger's contract is with the carrier, Van Air Europe.

I can't remember who the bidders for the PSO (Public Service Obligation) contract were last time. It was hoped that Citywing, through its partner carriers, would expand its route network from CWL the last time it won the contract. Apart from an attempt to link Norwich, which lasted a short while, nothing else was added.

It would be possible practically to use the aircraft when it's not being used on the PSO route - during the middle part of the day - but a route or routes would have to be found that would be viable on a small aircraft probably at expensive fares. Norwich didn't fit that bill.

 

[Jerry]

Citywing is not an airline of course. It's really a booking agency (Isle of Man based) that uses partner carriers to operate its flights although the passenger's contract is with Citywing, except on the Cardiff-Anglesey route.

Although Citywing acts as a booking agency for Cardiff-Anglesey its website makes it clear that the passenger's contract is with the carrier, Van Air Europe.

I can't remember who the bidders for the PSO (Public Service Obligation) contract were last time. It was hoped that Citywing, through its partner carriers, would expand its route network from CWL the last time it won the contract. Apart from an attempt to link Norwich, which lasted a short while, nothing else was added.

It would be possible practically to use the aircraft when it's not being used on the PSO route - during the middle part of the day - but a route or routes would have to be found that would be viable on a small aircraft probably at expensive fares. Norwich didn't fit that bill.

I think from memory the plane sits at the airport for 6 hours in between the morning return and afternoon departure. I have always wondered why the WAG haven't had it do Hawarden in that time. Therefore you have air access from CWL to North west wales and North east wales. Would seem a good use of its time and WAG money! It will be interesting to see who bids for it and whether Citywing retain it or a new airline trys there hand at it.
And I think Norwich was 300 passengers short a month to make it profitable. I remember reading it needed 1000 a month. It only lasted 2!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I think from memory the plane sits at the airport for 6 hours in between the morning return and afternoon departure. I have always wondered why the WAG haven't had it do Hawarden in that time. Therefore you have air access from CWL to North west wales and North east wales. Would seem a good use of its time and WAG money!

There is enough controversy about the Anglesey PSO route with many people in Wales believing that the money could be better spent elsewhere, ie hospitals for example. Starting another PSO route (because I couldn't see Hawarden working as a commercial enterprise without PSO support, unless WAG as airport owner stumps up from its route support fund and surely they would judge there are better options for this) would be next to impossible politically.

 

[Jerry]

There is enough controversy about the Anglesey PSO route with many people in Wales believing that the money could be better spent elsewhere, ie hospitals for example. Starting another PSO route (because I couldn't see Hawarden working as a commercial enterprise without PSO support, unless WAG as airport owner stumps up from its route support fund and surely they would judge there are better options for this) would be next to impossible politically.

Yeah you have a point any routes would have to non PSO. It may be for the airline easier just to park the aircraft rather than use it for other flights which could have the potential to lose money like Norwich did especially as small airlines probably can't absorb much losses compared to larger airlines i would've thought.
Yes many people view the route as just there for politicians to travel to the north.

 

[Jerry]

Cardiff airport has now had 14 months of consecutive growth! July saw a 17% increase on last year. The rolling year stands at 1,326,923 representing 29% growth over the last 12 months!
So things are recovering nicely for CWL and are looking up with new route announcements like Berlin and Dubrovnik (Newmarket holidays).

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Many thanks Jerry. You beat me to it.

I'll put the full CWL press release in the CWL CAA stats thread for completeness. We've had to do this in recent months because of the delay in the CAA publishing its own stats.

 

[CraigW92]

Good article with regards to growth, well worth a read

http://www.anna.aero/2016/08/19/cardiff-airport-reporting-oercent-growth-in-last-12-months/

 

[Jerry]

Yes it is good growth! Will be interesting to see how Dublin gets on without Aer Lingus flying the route.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Interesting comment about Turkish Airlines.

 

[Jerry]

Interesting comment about Turkish Airlines.

I read something a while ago that suggested that CWL would stand a better chance of getting Turkish Airlines to operate as a eastern hub instead of one of the ME3 as wide bodied aircraft wouldn't have to used. Whether it would be a viable route or whether Turkish Airlines would be interested i don't know.

 

[CraigW92]

Interesting comment about Turkish Airlines.

Over 22,000 passenger demand exists for a CWL-IST route. Connecting potential via the IST hub is a further 970,000 passengers per annum. A strong VFR and business market. Turkey is one of Wales largest export markets. ( route shop )

Although in the current climate I can't see that as being one of the routes that appears, interesting to note it's also on the BRS page too.

As for the DUB route should do fine, should
help push BE LF into the 70s and help consolidate on the route.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Turkish were expanding rapidly in Europe at one point, often to secondary airports once the majors had been connected, but I don't know if space at Istanbul Airport is now an issue because things seem to have died down a bit in the past year or so.

A couple of years ago BRS was mentioned in a number of aviation analyst websites as likely to be one of the next UK airports to host Turkish but we know that hasn't happened. The Qatar UK chief said last year that his airline was looking to fly from the South West and many took it to mean BRS, although it might have meant CWL or EXT of course. I know which I'd prefer out of Qatar and Turkish, despite having a liking for Turkish Delight, but neither now seem to be heading for the south west of Britain in the near future.

 

[Jerry]

I'd be surprised if either Qatar or Turkish turned up at CWL. Though Qatars 787s and Turkish's A319s would be good sizes for CWL. Would be great to see both though! I do wonder if we'll see Qatars flight numbers on Vuelings BCN flights any time soon?

 

[Ray Finkle]

No QR code shares to the UK as yet. You never know though, they may be added in the future.

Qatar/Vueling code shares

 

[Jerry]

I know this is a Cardiff thread but I've just read an article in Travel Weekly about Martin Morgan (shareholder of Swansea City FC). It looks like he's going to launch an attempt to reopen Swansea airport as a regional airport. Routes to Dublin and Amsterdam have been mentioned and that his consortium will be approaching airlines like Flybe. A new rival for CWL?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

We'll see. It's not the first time he's tried to resurrect Swansea Airport. Air Wales had a small network at one time in the earlier part of this century including a London City route via CWL. The Swansea leg didn't last long and eventually the CWL sector to LCY was axed as well.

South Wales is not a huge catchment and CWL has had its troubles. Is there really room for another airport even if it only flies to a handful of destinations with turbo props? There could be a niche I suppose like Gloucestershire Airport at Staverton which is almost midway between BRS and BHX. It only has Citywing scheduled services to the Isle of Man and a summer route to Jersey. Its current 12-month throughput of passengers is just over 11,000.

Where Staverton does boom though is in general aviation. It has more movements each year than BRS and that's overall movements, not just a comparison with BRS's general aviation movements.

 

[Jerry]

From what i know about Swansea airport it's a bit like Cardiff in that it's a bit out of the way and that to get it to regional airport standards with the runway, ATC, ILS and terminal would require a lot of money.
Essentially he would be spending a fortune to provide the Swans and Ospreys and the teams visiting them with their own airport! And maybe the odd charter for Swans fans! But good luck to them!

 

[jfy1999]

I pass Swansea Airport every year when I go to Gower in South Wales. It's so small you can blink and miss it

 

[Jerry]

It seems the plans for SWS have now made the local papers!
Wales Online (South Wales Echo and Western Mail) published an online article today and needless to say some of the locals have got excited on Facebook and are imagining flights to Malaga already! Some are a bit more cautious and doubting it will ever happen. Guess it's a case of wait and see.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

It seems the plans for SWS have now made the local papers!
Wales Online (South Wales Echo and Western Mail) published an online article today and needless to say some of the locals have got excited on Facebook and are imagining flights to Malaga already! Some are a bit more cautious and doubting it will ever happen. Guess it's a case of wait and see.

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/62802/martin-morgan-seeks-regional-flying-for-swansea-airport

It all started with this article in the Travel Weekly a few days ago and other local news outlets have picked up on it.

At the moment it seems to me to be at the same stage as the Viable campaign to re-open Plymouth Airport, albeit Swansea is still open - lots of hope and optimism but perhaps not so much realism. I hope I'm wrong with both.