Cardiff Airport - General Thread

[Em0866]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

I saw these two links today on the promotion of Wales in the US and of Cardiff too. It shows that WAG and Visit UK are working behind the scenes
http://wales.gov.uk/news/latest/100126welsh/?lang=en
http://news.flightmapping.com/10/01/26/ ... _2395.html

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Always very encouraging to read this sort of thing.

This week I was reading the site dedicated to the furtherance of Welsh aviation and followed the debate on the perception of Wales by other countries.

The consensus was that Wales was more likely to be identified as part of England than were Scotland or Ireland.

The more this sort of work is undertaken by WAG the better will be the understanding, perhaps amongst Americans especially, that Wales is a separate country within the UK with its own history, culture and even language, even if the tongue is not widely spoken in the Principality any more, well not as a first language anyway.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

This board is very quiet these days. There was a time when it was the second most popular board on the site after LBA.

I suppose the recession and the dramatic decline of CWL's fortunes in the past year or so is partly the cause, though the web site dedicated to the furtherance of aviation in Wales seems to be occupying the interest of some of the former regulars on forums4airports.

Looking at that web site, they have an impressive list of members, including senior people at CWL, senior airline figures associated with the Principality, journalists, at least one MP, businessmen and women, and other members of the 'Great and the Good' of Wales, as well as 'ordinary' punters.

The message board is quite active though only a relatively small proportion of members seem to submit posts, and even fewer do so regularly.

Meetings have been arranged where senior airport people and others have given presentations and been questioned, and pressure is being applied to those with influence such as AMs (Assembly Members) and the WAG (Welsh Assembly Government) itself.

All this is aimed at achieving a much better air service for Wales (mainly for CWL for not exclusively so).

The proposed airline FlyForBeans is still in the background and there are hopes that it will materialise when economic conditions improve. An increased Flybe presence is another hope.

CWL was very busy last Friday and Saturday when well over twenty charters arrived from France for the Wales v France rugby match at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night.

 

[Em0866]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Hello Local. I still check this forum and use it occasionally so am still here. The other forum does generate a lot of posts and includes a good cross-section of people in the industry and enthusiasts as you point out which is good. At times though I do feel some negativity on there amongst some of the regular contributors. This cannot be avoided as most fora generate this anyway, but I do find it annoying at times. I do offer my opinions on there but since my last comment, which was a balanced one, I was shot down in flames just for offering my opinion. This sometimes happens, but since then I am less inclined to leave messages on there as I feel there is no point as my views seem to go unnoticed or I am criticised.

On a lighter note, it was good to see so many flights in from France lask weekend at CWL and I think there are more flights this weekend to Dublin for the rugby international there. It all adds to the numbers of pax using CWL so must be good

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Hello Em,

Good to know you're still dropping in here.

It's a shame if people cannot accept with good grace other people's views with which they may not agree. I've noticed it happening from time to time on the Dried Plum. Fortunately, we have a decent crowd on forums4airports who live and let live.

There is certainly a lot of behind the scenes activity going on with the Wales forum with links to people in high places it would seem.

CWL needs a hand at the moment. I can't decide whether the management is poor or whether part of the problem is a lack of investment from the owners when it comes to pushing routes.

I know the airport thinks that's the job of the airlines but other airports (not all by any means of course)seem to get out there and shout about their wares.

I'm reading that bmibaby might be looking at some sort of expansion in the forseeable future (after down-sizing a bit recently) so that might be good news for CWL perhaps in 2011.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

The BA test flight is just about to land at Cardiff.

 

[News Guru]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

[textarea]Delta Cardiff – New York talks ‘break down’

Hopes of establishing daily flights between Cardiff Airport and New York City have been dashed after talks between the hub and US carrier Delta reportedly broke down. Discussions had been taking place about establishing a link with JFK Airport in New York, but yesterday the airline said it had ‘no plans’ to launch a service.

The Welsh assembly government said it is ‘committed’ to supporting an air link to New York, as it is keen to provide routes for business travellers. Delta declined to comment on reports that it had asked for the assembly government to underwrite any losses made by the service.

A spokesman for the assembly said: ‘We would like to see a direct transatlantic service, but in the meantime we were pleased that Aer Lingus recently increased the frequency of their Dublin services with onward connections to New York, Boston, Chicago and Orlando.'

Source[/textarea]

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

The reported sticking point was the Welsh Assembly Government's refusal to subsidise the route at an amount said to be approaching £2 million per year.

There are rumours circulating at the moment that Bristol Airport is in talks with Delta but I can't see that being any more successful, especially as there is no public body even to ask about route support there.

Cardiff Airport is also reported to be in talks with Emirates about establishing a Dubai link but again WAG money would be needed, as the CWL management admits.

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Should the Welsh Assembly Government support a Cardiff - Middle East service? http://poll.fm/1z0ri

 

[Aviador]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Should the Welsh Assembly Government support a Cardiff - Middle East service?

Well that depends on whether you mean political support or support through subsidies? If a new service to the Middle East can be sustained without an injection of public money than that is fine but, on the otherhand, if the new service required propping up each year to keep it going then no.

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

The thing with the Middle East route is that judging by the report there would be a huge boost for the Welsh economy if the route existed. This included large amounts of property being purchased by the visitors. It will bring back freight coming through Cardiff and Middle Easterns may also set up businesses.

Now if the report is correct then this route would bring much more to the economy than what the suggested £2m of rupport as suggested. This is totally different in my opinion than the US links and is definetly worth backing.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

I'm against the philosophy of state aid for any industry but I do accept that in the real world international pressures must be recognised and if the UK doesn't lubricate the wheels at times for its own people then other countries certainly will for theirs.

If an airline, presumably Emirates in this case, could be foreseen unequivocally to bring about a huge step up in the economy in Wales by starting such a route then I concede that I would find it very hard to say it was wrong.

My concern would be that other areas of the UK, in this case the South West and South Midland areas of England, might be disadvantaged if such state aid was not uniformly available, and it almost certainly wouldn't be in England where the regional development agencies (the only likely providers of the gravy) are likely to be wound up in a number of areas.

Whichever way it comes, if it does, I hope it will succeed. I believe that it would.

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

Cardiff Airport-Train Station bus to operate until October

The Deputy First Minister has welcomed news that the shuttle bus service linking Rhoose train station and Cardiff Airport will continue throughout the summer and beyond.

Cardiff Airport last month announced that the bus link, which has been provided free of charge, was regrettably being withdrawn. Since that time the Welsh Assembly Government have worked closely with Cardiff Airport and the local Council to explore how this important service could be retained, and have now announced that an agreement has been reached.

The Minister for Economy and Transport has expressed his delight that the service would continue to run, with no charge, until 31 October 2010.

“This service has proved to be extremely valuable, and has given people far greater choice in how they get to and from Cardiff Airport. I am therefore very pleased to confirm that our investment will enable the shuttle to continue.” Mr Jones said.

“The effort shown by all parties further underlines a joint commitment to the delivery of a sustainable public transport system for Wales.”

Cllr Jeff James, Vale council Cabinet member for planning and transportation, said: “I’m very pleased that the airport shuttle bus will now continue to run with help from the Vale of Glamorgan Council. It’s an important transport link in the Vale and one which we wish to see maintained in the future. It’s our partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government and Cardiff Airport that has made this possible.”

Steve Hodgetts, business development director at Cardiff Airport commented, “This is an excellent example of a partnership approach leading to an agreeable solution and all should be commended for the effort. We look forward to this approach leading to further improvements in public transport access for Cardiff Airport.”

The Assembly Government has agreed to provide funding of around £25,000 per year, as well £7,500 from the local authority. Cardiff Airport will provide the existing vehicle for use on the service until the end of October 2010.

This temporary arrangement will provide time for us to look at more sustainable options for keeping the service in the long term.

The contract to operate the service will be retained by the incumbent operator, Veolia Transport Cymru to 30th June 2010 and discussions are ongoing between all parties to secure the service until 31st October 2010.

view source The Deputy First Minister has welcomed news that the shuttle bus service linking Rhoose train station and Cardiff Airport will continue throughout the summer and beyond.

Cardiff Airport last month announced that the bus link, which has been provided free of charge, was regrettably being withdrawn. Since that time the Welsh Assembly Government have worked closely with Cardiff Airport and the local Council to explore how this important service could be retained, and have now announced that an agreement has been reached.

The Minister for Economy and Transport has expressed his delight that the service would continue to run, with no charge, until 31 October 2010.

View source here

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

When is the new bus link from central Cardiff to the airport - publicly trailed by the WAG a few weeks ago - likely to start?

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

I believe it will be in the autumn, i guess a tender for the route should appear in the coming months.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Many thanks, mathers.

I believe a bus link from the city is the way forward for access. The rail halt is a diversion and may even lead to less enthusiasm on the part of WAG for a bus link from the city - bearing in mind how many millions they spent to reopen the Vale of Glamorgan rail line, partly in order to service CWL.

A regular bus link, integrated with the national rail and National Express systems with through ticketing to/from the airport, gives far more flexibility than the rail link where passengers coming from/going to anywhere outside the Greater Cardiff area have to change trains at Central Station to get to/from the airport halt and still need transport between there and the airport terminal.

The only way the rail halt would really work is for long distance trains to call there direct and with an overall service frequency of at least every 20 minutes, with every 15 minutes being the ideal.

Given the present lack of investment in Britain's rail system and particularly a dire shortage of rolling stock this is not likely to happen for a generation, if then.

Even then there remains the problem of getting people from the halt to the terminal. Some sort of Maglev system would be wonderful but that is probably entering the world of makebelieve, given the cost and the likely return.

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Response From Mr Mike Spearing Intergrated Transport Unit to WAN

Cardiff Airport Express Bus Service Specification the main features of this bus/coach service will be:

Limited stop service between Cardiff Airport and City Centre

Dedicated stopping area at Airport with information displays for travelling public

Clock face timetable with a 30 minute frequency

All vehicles will be DDA compliant with euro 5 engines or equivalent

Service will connect with other bus services in the City Centre and Cardiff Bay

Fares will be fixed at the same level as the adult peak fares between the City Centre and Rhoose Cardiff Airport Station

Tickets will be available at the Airport, through the Cardiff-Anglesey Air Service, on-line and from hotels and other outlets in the City Centre

All drivers will be trained to CPC standard and will have completed the “Croeso Cynnes Cymreig – A Warm Welsh Welcome” Training Programme

A distinct logo and livery

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) Airport of the Year Award

The six airports shortlisted for this award are Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Doncaster-Sheffield, East Midlands and Manchester. The award is voted on by travel agents.

From the performance of most of these airports over the past year it seems a significant criterion is a substantial fall in passenger numbers.

 

[News Guru]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

[textarea]Cardiff second place in passenger poll

Passengers rate Birmingham the best UK airport and Luton the worst, according to a new poll. Birmingham scored 54 points out of 60 while Luton received just 16, in a survey of 2,372 holidaymakers conducted by airporttransfers.co.uk.

Asked to rate various aspects of airport service, those polled awarded Birmingham 10 out of 10 for staff friendliness, check-in efficiency and shopping experience, whilst Luton scored just one out of 10 for staff friendliness and only one out of 10 for security check-in time.

Of the 10 airports surveyed, Cardiff was the next best, with a score of 48 out of 60. After Luton, the next worst airport was Stansted with a score of 20. Gatwick got 26 out of 60 and Heathrow had 30. Heathrow got 10 out of 10 for shopping experience, with Stansted getting 8 out of 10.

63% of respondents said they preferred flying from smaller, regional airports and 12% said the airport experience was one of the things they ‘most looked forward to’ about a holiday. Almost half (48%) said they were prepared to travel more than 100 miles if it meant the airport they were flying from was ‘decent’, and 26% felt that having a bad experience at the airport could ruin a holiday.

Source[/textarea]

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Re previous post

I wonder how these airports came to be the ones that were surveyed.

If such accolades are to mean anything at all, and I never attach much value to such polls or surveys, they ought at least to include the majority of regional airports of any size.

I can think of at least half a dozen that one might expect to have been part of the exercise but apparently weren't.

Well done to Birmingham and Cardiff nonetheless.