Cardiff Airport - General Thread

[Jerry]

4 April
Fiona Gunn announced as Non-Executive Director at Cardiff Airport
The Airport Board has huge ambition for the growth of the business and this appointment will see Fiona contribute to the development and delivery of the Airport’s strategic business plan.

During a career spanning over 35 years in the retail sector, Fiona has strong commercial experience with e-commerce, marketing and strategy understanding. Fiona also has general management and FTSE 100 executive committee experience.

Fiona oversaw the strategy, creation and leadership of the George clothing business at Asda. As a divisional CEO she also led and oversaw the creation of the Non-Food segment.

She also undertook the transformation of the family owned and controlled value retailer, Wilko Retail Ltd, undertaking a complete overhaul of its 370 store estate, rebranding of its products, creation of its first online shopping platform and opening of an office in Hong Kong. Fiona also served as a NED of its innovation division, W’Innovate.

Fiona went on to create the Marketing function for Greene King and drove its digital and social media strategy as it joined the FTSE 100 and continued to grow to become the UK’s largest pub retailer and hospitality business. She was a member of its five-strong Trading Board led by the Group CEO.

Fiona previously ran her own retail consultancy, undertaking major projects for clients including Boots, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Matalan, Etam, Focus Wickes and Dolland & Aitchison.

She is fluent in German and French and is married with two children.

Roger Lewis, Chairman of Cardiff Airport, said: "I am delighted to welcome Fiona Gunn to the Board of Cardiff Airport as a Non-Executive Director. Fiona brings a new dimension to the Board with such strong commercial experience, having worked with some of the industry's major players.

“Alongside our two other Non-Executive Directors, Terry Morgan and Geraint Davies and our three Executive Directors we have a strong and dynamic Board with the right skill set to address the challenges of developing, operating and marketing an airport.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Margaret Llewelyn for her time on the Cardiff Airport Board which comes to an end this month. Her contribution as a Non-Executive Director since 2013 has been instrumental in our progress and opened many doors in the tourism and transport sector.”

“We have achieved much over the past few years and are forecasting continued growth as we move forward. We still have much to do but I am confident that with such a great team of people across all departments at Cardiff Airport we will deliver a sustainable airport as an important gateway for Wales and the UK."

Fiona Gunn, Non-Executive Director at Cardiff Airport added: “I am really excited to be joining Roger and the team at Cardiff Airport at such an important point in the growth of the business. It has been great to see all the positive developments at the airport over recent years and I look forward to working with the team to offer my experience and knowledge to help deliver even more growth.”

Cardiff Airport Executive Directors are Deb Barber - CEO, Spencer Birns - Commercial Director and Huw Lewis - Finance Director and Company Secretary.

https://www.cardiff-airport.com/new...as-non-executive-director-at-cardiff-airport/

 

[Jerry]

Now that Summer 18 is around the corner i decided to have a look at how many flights a week, what aircraft type and how many seats each airline will have onsale. I used the first week of August for reference and the departure and arrival flights are counted as separate flights.

Qatar Airways
787 8 Dreamliner, 14 weekly flights, 3556 seats weekly.
BH Air
A320, 4 weekly flights, 720 seats weekly. Same in for Summer 2019
Ryanair
737 800, 6 weekly flights, 1134 seats weekly.
Eurowings (operating on behalf of TUI)
A320, 2 weekly flights, 348 seats weekly. Will not operate in Summer 2019
Norwegian Air Shuttle (operating on behalf of TUI)
737 800, 2 weekly flights, 378 seats weekly. Will not operate in Summer 2019
Freebird Airlines (operating on behalf of TUI)
A320, 4 weekly flights, 720 seats weekly. Will not operate in Summer 2019
TUI Airlines UK
737 800, 64 weekly flights, 12,096 seats weekly. Will be 90 weekly flights and will be 17,010 seats weekly in Summer 2019.
Blue Islands (Flybe franchise)
ATR 72 500, 4 weekly flights, 264 seats weekly.
Eastern Airways (Flybe franchise)
Jetstream 41, 40 weekly flights, 1160 seats weekly.
Flybe
E175, E195 and Q400, 158 weekly flights, 15,364 seats weekly.
KLM Cityhopper
E175 and E190, 40 weekly flights, 3544 seats weekly.
Iberia Express
A320, 4 weekly flights, 720 seats weekly.
Vueling
A319 and A320, 34 weekly flights, 6072 seats weekly.
Thomas Cook Airlines
A321, 2 weekly flights, 440 seats weekly. Will be the same for Summer 2019.
Thomas Cook Airlines (operated by Smartlynx)
A320, 30 weekly flights, 5400 seats weekly. Will be the same for Summer 2019 but airline unknown.

The aircraft types can change due to operational reasons.
The airport will see 402 weekly flights and 51,916 seats onsale for both departing and returning flights by it's scheduled and charter airlines which does not include adhoc flights by airlines like Enter Air or BMI regional.
Based aircraft will be 1 E195, 3 E175s (1 KLM overnight aircraft), 1 A320, 2 737 800s (will be 3 737 800s in Summer 2019) and 1 J41.

So far there will be 9 extra weekly departures for Summer 2019 compared to Summer 2018 with an extra 3402 seats onsale.
If Flybe don't add extra aircraft then by seats onsale TUI will become Cardiffs biggest airline during the summer.

 

[Jerry]

News

12 April
Financial year at Cardiff Airport ends with more passenger growth
In what has been a ground-breaking twelve months at Wales’ national airport, the 2017/18 financial year has ended with more positive developments including a 10% increase in passenger growth. The number of customers flying through Cardiff Airport now stands at more than 1,488 million over the rolling year.

This exciting news comes as a result of our airlines offering an increased choice of destinations, more seats and improved flight times with greater value for money when choosing to fly from Cardiff.

Some of the new destinations launched over the last 12 months include Madrid with brand new airline Iberia Express; Faro with Ryanair; Venice and Rome with Flybe plus Guernsey with Blue Islands – Flybe’s franchise partner.

In September it was announced that 5* airline Qatar Airways will begin operating a regular service to Doha, Qatar from May 1st. This direct flight to the Middle East will offer customers opportunities to travel onwards to destinations including Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Asia from Cardiff.

12 months of continuing passenger growth:

Month 2017-18

% growth from previous year

Passenger numbers

April

19

95,954

May

10

147,521

June

19

185,787

July

5

172,117

August

7

182,424

September

7

166,636

October

4

134,611

November

8

78,043

December

10

80,144

January

7

70,437

February

10

78,237

March

11

96,747


The ten most popular destinations in 2017/18 were:

Amsterdam with KLM
Palma Majorca with Vueling, TUI and Thomas Cook
Alicante with Vueling and TUI
Dublin with Flybe
Edinburgh with Flybe
Tenerife with Ryanair, TUI and Thomas Cook
Malaga with Vueling and TUI
Paris with Flybe
Belfast with Flybe
Faro with Flybe, Ryanair and TUI

Debra Barber, CEO of Cardiff Airport, said: "The past 12 months have seen increased choice for our passengers, exciting announcements for the seasons ahead and even more improvements to the customer experience. In addition to the huge Qatar Airways announcement, we’ve also welcomed a third aircraft to the Flybe base and look forward to its third summer of flying customers to 21 destinations across the UK & Europe.

“KLM has introduced a larger aircraft to its daily services to Amsterdam Schiphol and introduced a wealth of new connections to far flung destinations including New York, Orlando, Los Angeles and Toronto. The next twelve months will be transformational, with new routes already announced including Doha with Qatar Airways plus Naples, Dubrovnik, Enfidha and Hurghada with TUI in summer 2019.

“Cardiff Airport is proudly flying the flag for Wales every day of the year.”

2017/18: The highlights

• Over 1.488 million passengers chose to fly from Cardiff over the past 12 months, a growth of 10% year on year

• The busiest year for 8 years
• Now over 50% growth in passenger numbers since change of ownership in 2013
• Secured a 5* Middle Eastern carrier, Qatar Airways, starting on 1st May
• Two new airlines: Iberia Express and Blue Islands
• New destinations: Rome, Madrid, Guernsey, Venice

• Our airlines fly direct to over 50 destinations including 9 capital cities
• Our airlines fly to over 900 destinations via 11 hub airports
• 30% of our passengers are visitors to Wales
• Named Best Airport (under 3 million passengers) by Airport Operators’ Association
• Cardiff Airport now sustains over 2,675 direct and indirect jobs
• The overall GVA impact of Cardiff Airport to the local economy is £102 million.

• Launched £4million investment into improving the terminal

• Successfully welcomed 21,000 fans, Juventus and Real Madrid and managed 380 additional aircraft movements over the UEFA Champions League final.

What’s next for 2018/19?

• Forecasting double digit growth
• Improved Departures area and improvements to car parking infrastructure to be unveiled in April 2018
• New airline Qatar Airways will launch a daily direct flight to Doha in May 2018, offering connections to key destinations via a Middle Eastern hub to Australia, China, South Africa, India, New Zealand and beyond
• New Thomas Cook flights to Antalya and a second weekly flight to Dalaman this Summer plus new flights to Enfidha in Summer 2019
• New TUI flights to Antalya this summer plus new flights to Hurghada, Dubrovnik, Naples and Enfidha in Summer 2019
• Iberia Express flights to Madrid will return for the summer season, starting from 14th June
• Super Break will operate a number of short break packages to destinations that include Seville, Madeira and Iceland. The first of which took off in January.
  www.cardiff-airport.com/news/2018/04/12/financial-year-at-cardiff-airport-ends-with-more-passenger-growth/

 

[aviatorconcorde]

New air bridge being used. Pictures on CWL twitter.

 

[Jerry]

Flybe were the first to use it. Will be interesting to see if they use it much in the future.
https://twitter.com/Cardiff_Airport/status/989133404292767744?s=19

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

Very much in training stage at the moment. Airbridge was used only once today on G-FBJI which arrived from Glasgow and departed to Jersey.

 

[Jerry]

Roger Lewis has been speaking to the assemblys economy committee.
The airport is forecasted to be worth £70 millon by 2019 and £93 million by 2020.
The government could recoup it's investment by 2020 but Roger Lewis believes the government should keep a stake in the airport to prevent a private firm sweating the asset to death like in the past.
With organic growth the airport should get to 2 million passengers a year by 2020.
The airports latest financial results for 2016-17 show pre tax losses increasing to £5.97 million a year from £4.9 million a year for 2015-16.
The Welsh government has made loans of £10 milion for terminal development and £13 million for route development available (i don't think they are new loans) and in March it invested £6 million in return for more shares.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-wales-politics-43898796?__twitter_impression=true

 

[Jerry]

At the end of the business briefing for business Wales there was a summary of achievements for 2017 so i'll summarise them here.
2017 summary of achievements

Growth has been achieved by
Developing year round services
Increasing leisure route capacity on key routes
Developing bespoke markets
Heavy focus on in bound to Wales

The busiest year in 8 years
48% growth in 3 years

Tourism to Wales is growing

German routes now 40% originating from overseas
Irish routes now 50% Irish origin
KLM 60% originating from overseas markets
Italian routes grown to 25% originating from Italy
Paris route currently 47% French origin

Over 50 direct routes
18 airlines
11 Hub routes

https://twitter.com/JeremyBrookman2/status/989521933833293824

And apparently the 25 year Master Plan will be released in the summer.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The government could recoup it's investment by 2020 but Roger Lewis believes the government should keep a stake

Isn't it still WG policy to retain a majority shareholding when the time comes to involve the private sector?

2017 summary of achievements
18 airlines

What are the 18?

 

[superking]

Perhaps they counting airlines that diverted in, or the sport charters that are not regulaters.

 

[Jerry]

Isn't it still WG policy to retain a majority shareholding when the time comes to involve the private sector?



What are the 18?

BH Air, Blue Islands, British Airways (would they count), Enter Air (i wonder if they would count them), Eastern Airways, Eurowings, Flybe, Freebird, Iberia Express, KLM Cityhopper, Norwegian Air, Qatar Airways, Ryanair, Smartlynx (would they count as separate), Thomas Cook, TUI and Vueling. 17with and without BA, Enter and Smartlynx 14 so not sure who the other airlines would be? BMI, Jota, Aurigny, Jet2, Cityjet are infrequent visitors same with VLM but they can they be counted as they are more sports charter operators than passenger routes.

I'd be surprised if the WG didn't keep some sort of shareholding even if it's 25%.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

BH Air, Blue Islands, British Airways (would they count), Enter Air (i wonder if they would count them), Eastern Airways, Eurowings, Flybe, Freebird, Iberia Express, KLM Cityhopper, Norwegian Air, Qatar Airways, Ryanair, Smartlynx (would they count as separate), Thomas Cook, TUI and Vueling. 17with and without BA, Enter and Smartlynx 14 so not sure who the other airlines would be? BMI, Jota, Aurigny, Jet2, Cityjet are infrequent visitors same with VLM but they can they be counted as they are more sports charter operators than passenger routes.

Ah, I see. I thought they meant regular airlines in their own right but they've also included the likes of Freebird and Norwegian that are operating for tour companies.

 

[Jerry]

Ah, I see. I thought they meant regular airlines in their own right but they've also included the likes of Freebird and Norwegian that are operating for tour companies.

I'd imagine most airports would count them especially if they are regular.

 

[Jerry]

Would be interesting to know who they count as the other 4 to make it to 18.

 

[Jerry]

Just seen a post elsewhere about the new lounge.
Positives is that there is plenty of workspace and the seating is comfy.
Negatives is that the walls are pretty bare and that there is no change in apparently a poor offering of food and the drinks are the same as before.
Apparently food on offer was Welshcakes, Muesli bars, Danish pastries, crisps and nuts. Lots to offer at the bar except it's not manned apparently you have to ask someone on the front desk for alcohol. I don't know how this compares to the previous Executive lounge as i never used it.

Apparently hot food will come online in about 4 weeks.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

I know i'm always banging on about the poor attitude torwards Cardiff Airport but another person mentioned to me today they don't even look at Cardiff airport when they want to go somewhere anymore as it's too expensive.

 

[Jerry]

I know i'm always banging on about the poor attitude torwards Cardiff Airport but another person mentioned to me today they don't even look at Cardiff airport when they want to go somewhere anymore as it's too expensive.

That does seem to come up a lot and although it can be true in some circumstances it's not true in others and i know that from personal experience. I've seen quite a lot that people will brand the airport as a whole as too expensive just because the flight or holiday they take is rare ie 1 weekly or indirect, this seems to come up a lot with Eastern Europe because all of CWL's flights are via AMS while other airports have direct routes.
It's probably a tag CWL will have and probably won't be able to shake off completely along with the misapprehension that CWL has no flights and that it should be ahead of Bristol.

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

I went to look at a short break from Cardiff to Cala d'or in October. Our friends are heading for a full week and we wanted to stay for 4 nights during the same time.

Mrs Mathers and I went and looked at options with both Thomas Cook and Travel House.

The best options they could provide for 4 nights was from Gatwick at £510 per passenger half board and for £520 could go all inclusive.

It is quite funny at for £910 I could gor for the whole week our friends from Cardiff with TCX.

It is a shame however that Vueling flights to Palma had already ceased as no doubt they would have offered a great solution although appears TCX no longer provide hotel only bookings.

 

[superking]

Try easy jet from BRS. I'm sure they fly Palma at least 5 rotations through the winter months per week.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Try easy jet from BRS. I'm sure they fly Palma at least 5 rotations through the winter months per week.

Not for the entire winter. It's 2 x weekly for much of December and January, apart from Christmas/New Year holiday season.