Cardiff Airport - General Thread

[News Guru]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

[textarea]Cardiff Airport welcomes new operations director

THE owners of Cardiff Airport have appointed a new operations director to drive forward infrastructure developments.

Owners TBI Abertis announced the appointment of Kerry Quinn to Wales’ national airport. She joined in July from Durham Tees Valley Airport where she has been airport director since 2008.

Ms Quinn joined Teesside Airport – which later became Durham Valley Tees – in 1999 as head of human resources before pursuing a route through airport operations in the following 10 years.

Her roles included landside operations manager, head of airport services and later director of operations.

Ms Quinn will be responsible for managing Cardiff Airport’s operations and ensuring regulatory compliance for safety and security and developing infrastructure and service capability.

She will be a member of the airport board and report directly to managing director Patrick Duffy.

Ms Quinn said: “I am looking forward to the new and exciting challenge of my new role at Cardiff Airport and relish the opportunity which exists with the ongoing development of the airport.

“I understand how vitally important the airport is to Wales and I’m committed to further developing the airport’s reputation and efficiency through its operations and customer experience.”

Cardiff Airport managing director Patrick Duffy said: “We very much welcome Kerry to the Cardiff Airport team, and her addition to the team strengthens our knowledge, experience and leadership.”

Source[/textarea]

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

I hope that Kerry Quinn has a more productive time at CWL than she experienced at Durham Tees Valley where she presided over a dreadful reduction in passenger numbers, routes and carriers.

I wonder if she's being lined up to become the CWL MD in due course.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

New York Route Still A Possibility

Spencer Birns, the man responsible for securing new airlines and routes at CWL, has said he believes that there is still a possibility of securing a Delta route from CWL to JFK.

It was reported earlier this year that the airline wanted a substantial financial guarantee to commence the route.

Mr Birns said that the Wales Assembly Government (WAG) had looked at a number of possible ways of providing the guarantee but was unable to do so, partly because the WAG could not determine a legal method by which they might help.

It seems Delta had sorted slots for a 5 times a week service from CWL to JFK and had hoped to have it running in time for the Ryder Cup that takes place in South Wales next month.

Mr Birns is still hopeful that between them local business interests and the WAG might come up with the necessary financial guarantee. Without it the route would not be feasible.

Given CWL's current size (1.5 mppa) a regular transatlantic scheduled route would be a remarkable event, financial guarantee or not.

One has to think that in the current straitened financial state of the public purse that state aid would be highly unlikely, assuming there was a legal way to provide it. It looks as though the local business community will have to come up with the cash if they want the route.

 

[Seasider]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

I do not think it is right that any airline should get financial support (especially non uk) from the public purse, unless it is loan that has to be repaid after a certain time.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

I think that the CWL management is looking at Scotland where their route development fund certainly encouraged numerous airlines to commence routes over the past decade.

However, when the EU imposed stricter criteria for RDFs in 2007 Scotland stopped theirs for new routes as did Wales, although the Welsh RDF had barely got off the ground.

Of course, RDFs never permitted direct funding to airlines but were suppsed to help with such things as airport charges and marketing for the first three years of a new route, so I fail to see how the CWL management thought that the WAG could in some way underwrite the cost of the proposed route to New York.

Like you, I'm not in favour of public money being used to support private companies.

 

[News Guru]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

[textarea]Bird strike causes RAF jet alert at Cardiff Airport

The emergency services were scrambled to Cardiff Airport yesterday to help escort an RAF Hawk jet to safety when it got into difficulty after flying into a flock of birds. Six fire crews were dispatched to the airport, but the jet landed safely at 10:25 before being escorted to a secure area at the airport by security vehicles.

A Cardiff Airport spokeswoman said the RAF Hawk landed because of a reported bird strike. The aircraft was checked and did not sustain any damage in the incident. It has since departed the airport.

A spokeswoman for RAF Valley at Anglesey confirmed the aircraft involved was from the base and was flying in the Pembrey area of Carmarthenshire when it was hit by a bird. The jet had followed normal procedure in returning to the nearest airport.

Source[/textarea]

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Runway length

The incident involving serious damage to a Thomson B 767 when landing at Bristol Airport last weekend in heavy rain and strong crosswinds has brought into focus again the disparity in runway lengths at the two Severnside airports.

Before proceeding I should make it clear that no official reason as to the cause of the incident has been announced which is entirely understandable at the present time given that no official enquiry has been held in the short time since, although the CAA Accidents Investigation Branch is said to be making enquiries.

Cardiff has no transatlantic flights at all now (apart from ad hoc cruise flights to the Caribbean area), yet it was only a few years ago that it had two or three weekly charters to Florida and the Dominican Republic in summer, and flights to Toronto and Vancouver with Zoom.

Apart from its CO connection to Newark (soon to be closed down) Bristol had no transatlantic flights at all other than the occasional ad hoc cruise charter.

First Choice began regular weekly IT/charters from Bristol to Florida, Cuba (no longer flown) and Mexico three or four years ago and when that company amalgamated with Thomson their Cardiff transatlantic charters were axed with the Bristol ones continuing.

The TOM 763s have to take on fuel at Manchester outbound to Mexico whereas the Sanford, Florida route is non-stop.

Bristol's runway is only 2011 metres long but it is over 600 feet high with a hump, and subject to weather conditions the combination of which leads some pilots to say that the runway is 'marginal' at certain times, especially for heavy metal.

Cardiff's runway is longer at 2354 metres (not that much longer with Birmingham for example saying their 2605 metre runway needs lengthening to make long haul a better prospect) but at a much lower level with generally less extreme weather than Bristol.

It seems for the transatlantic charters that commercially Bristol is a better bet for the operator but that operationally the professional pilots seem to tend to the view that the longer and lower CWL runway is preferred.

The new B787 that Thomson say they will use from Bristol won't find the BRS runway length anything like the load and distance handicap that older aircraft encounter for takeoffs, but the hump and sometimes difficult weather conditions will remain.

It's an interesting dilemma for Thomson, especially if the enquiry does find that the runway and/or weather conditions at Bristol played a part in the recent B767 incident.

 

[Em0866]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Great news with the annoucement of 4x flights a week to start from CWL to Zurich in March with Helvetic Airways!

 

[Aviador]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

That's excellent news Em0866. It doesn't appear on the Helvetic Airways website at the moment, any reason why? Zurich is a great European addition to Cardiff airports portfolio. Is it planned as a scheduled service or charter?

[rimg]http://www.orangesmile.com/common/img_final_large/zurich_sightseeing.jpg[/rimg]
Image Source

 

[Em0866]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Sorry, in my excitement I forgot to attached the link which I stumbled across! Here it is
http://whycardiff.com/News/Cardiff-Airp ... rline.html

 

[Em0866]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

More good news, bmibaby launching their CWL-IBZ on Weds and Sat from end of May 2011. Also Eastern NQY-CWL-NCL-CWL-NQY Monday to Friday from end of March 2011

 

[Aviador]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Of course, Air Southwest commitments go beyond serving just Bristol in the South West now it's under full ownership of Eastern Airways. It's going to be interesting watching how the airline route map changes over the coming years.

Didn't Bmibaby already operate to IBZ?

 

[Em0866]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Yes will be interesting to see what happens with Southwest now it's under Eastern, much better looking for CWL this week with those 3 announcements. Bmibaby did do IBZ before, but not this year or last year either, so a welcome return. Could do with a couple of new routes though

 

[Aviador]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Yes will be interesting to see what happens with Southwest now it's under Eastern, much better looking for CWL this week with those 3 announcements. Bmibaby did do IBZ before, but not this year or last year either, so a welcome return. Could do with a couple of new routes though

Yes indeed and lets hope this means the airports decline has now bottomed out and more new services will follow. The last couple of years have been truly shocking for the airport and it had clearly been under performing. Has the IBZ route been operated by any other airline during the period Bmibaby hasn't operated the route?

On another note, in light of the recent route announcements I wonder if there's been a change in the way the airport deals with carriers?

 

[Em0866]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

Yes lets hope so! As far as I know, and I could be wrong here, I think TCX and/or TOM have been operating that route.
Well lets hope that the recent annoucements of new flights carry on, it's all good and hope the decline in pax using the airport will now start to even out and start to climb again

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

The new about Helvetic is especially encouraging for CWL.

As Aviador has intimated perhaps the CWL management is now pursuing a more aggressive policy because one would have laid money on Bristol being the destination for such a route.

As for Newquay, ASW ran a CWL route three or four years years ago but quickly axed it because of poor loads. Scilly Skybus then stepped in but their service was so erratic that it was no surprise that loads were terrible and it stopped after one summer.

The NQY route is an interesting one. The ASW BRS-NQY is not that well patronised so it will be fascinating to see how the CWL route does now it's been given another chance.

As I've suggested for many months the awful decline in CWL passenger numbers will bottom out by the end of the winter and some modest growth may occur in 2012.

I've also heard more rumours about Emirates and CWL on a recent trip with the airline.

 

[News Guru]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

[textarea]Cardiff Airport introduce £2 trolley charge

Passengers using Cardiff Airport will have to pay to use its baggage trolleys from next week. There is currently no charge for the trolleys but that will change on Tuesday when new trolleys will be brought in and a £2 non-refundable charge levied for their use.

The new trolleys will be stored in a special bay and released when a passenger puts £2 or €2 into a vending machine. The decision to charge follows a study by the airport and brings Cardiff into line with other airports, including Luton, Birmingham and Bristol.

Newport-based company Airport Cart Service (ACS) Limited will supply and operate the service. Cardiff Airport has said that it will not receive any income from the £2 fee, but it will make some savings as it will no longer have to supply free trolleys.

Source[/textarea]

 

[Aviador]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

The airport has a redesigned website http://www.tbicardiffairport.com I am impressed. It's simple to use and it gives you what you want to know. I especially like the route map that shows connecting flights 'at a glance' as well as the direct ones. http://www.tbicardiffairport.com/en/destinationmap/

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

[textarea]Airport chasing new routes after passenger numbers fall


Cardiff Airport is facing up to another challenging year as it revealed 200,000 fewer passengers passed through its doors in 2010.

In a tough year for the UK airport industry generally Cardiff’s overall passenger numbers decreased from 1.6 million in 2009 to 1.4 million last year, a fall of 14%.

The vast majority of that fall was accounted for by low-cost carrier Bmibaby cutting back its operations at Cardiff, bringing 180,000 fewer passengers through the Rhoose facility.

The airport was also hit in May when a volcanic cloud of ash from Iceland led to the closure of UK airspace, something that hit 2,000 passengers travelling through Cardiff.

There has already been more disappointing news for the airport this year, with the news that BMIbaby is suspending Munich, Jersey and Edinburgh flights from Cardiff.

Spencer Birns, Cardiff Airport’s head of commercial operations and air services development, said the further cuts by BMIbaby would hit the airport, but that management had been working hard to help incumbent airlines to grow and to attract new carriers to add to the 11 charter airlines and seven scheduled airlines that operate from Cardiff.

Indeed, new routes including Funchal, Dubrovnik, Naples and Verona are available in the summer.

“We know that BMIbaby are making cuts and there is nothing we can do about it,” he said. “That is going to have an impact on our passenger numbers but we have been actively working with other people. We have had a tour operator saying they will do Naples and Dubrovnik and another Madeira. We are also in discussion with operators to do more cruise activity.”

“We all hear about the economic challenges. One in three people in Wales are in the public sector. There is a nervousness and that is reflected by the incumbents in their desire to grow.”

Given this, Mr Birns said, he was cautious about the coming year.

“We have seen some positive developments in terms of new routes happening and new routes coming back on line,” he said. “That is a positive sign but we are cautious about the current capacity because we are seeing the incumbent carriers manoeuvring to push their margins up and that is going to upset people if they won’t be able to get to Alicante when they want or for £45 as before.”

Mr Birns said it was a challenge to bring new UK carriers to Cardiff because there was a lack of desire by airlines to expand into Wales.

“EasyJet are at Bristol and they will tell you that is their most important hub outside of London in the UK – 15% of people going on those EasyJet planes come from South Wales,” he said.

“Ryanair wanted us to pay them to fly from here.

“The most important thing for Wales is that we as an airport are trying to attract traffic that is viable and a long-term prospect.”

But while BMIbaby is an important customer for the airport its biggest destination is Amsterdam, with passengers using the regular service from Cardiff to Schiphol were they can link up with flights worldwide.

March will see a very positive development for the airport when Swiss company Helvetic Airways begins to operate flights between Zurich and Cardiff.

“It is going to bring Swiss tourists to Wales,” said Mr Birns. “If you look at what ticks the boxes for Swiss tourists it is mountains and sea. They like the fact that we have the sea close by and the cost of living here is attractive to them.

“If the majority of people on those flights are Swiss tourists then great. We were also told by the business community here, and in Switzerland, that they would support a direct service.
“But perhaps the most exciting part of this link for Welsh passengers is that if the route proves successful it could in future link with Swiss International Air Lines at Zurich, with passengers able to fly on to a full range of worldwide destinations.

“When we approached Swiss Air Lines themselves they said they didn’t see the viability of the route,” said Mr Birns. “We then went to a number of different airlines in Switzerland and presented to them. Helvetic saw the opportunity and were willing to take the financial risk. If it proves popular they would then link up with Swiss Air Lines.”

Mr Birns said no stone had been left unturned in the effort to bring new routes to Cardiff.
“Since we have been here we have been knocking on the door of every airline that has airplanes,” he said.

“We have been talking to German, Scandinavian and American carriers.

“We are having good progressing discussions with a number of airlines and we have strong, good dialogue ongoing.”

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business-i ... -27983228/[/textarea]

An almost plaintive call from the CWL commercial manager but it does illustrate the problems that beset the airport which has seen a third of its passenger numbers vanish in three years.

Unfortunately, the new routes mentioned apart from Zurich (which is excellent news) are no more than one or two-off charters during the summer, with similar offerings from many UK regional airports.

It is to be hoped they will be exceptionally well supported at CWL which might lead to someone then considering at least some of them on a permanent basis.

They have to claw passengers back from Bristol, Birmingham and Heathrow but the airport has known that for a long time - it's the how that is the problem.

Part of the problem lies in the fact that if an operator wants to run a route from Severnside which might be marginal they will, with all other circumstances being equal, almost certainly opt for Bristol because it will require fewer passengers from outside its catchment to 'top up' the loads than Cardiff would from outside its own smaller catchment.

Incentives seem the only answer but another problem for the CWL management is that its BRS counterparts are quite good at offering those.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Cardiff Airport - Main Thread

[textarea]Ailing airport criticised for ramping up charges

THE Spanish owners of Wales’ biggest airport have been criticised for imposing a raft of new fees on Welsh holidaymakers as its passenger numbers continue to fall.

Aviation and tourism experts, as well as opposition AMs, also called on the Assembly Government to help Cardiff Airport attract a major new carrier.

It comes just days after Albertis of Barcelona, the airport’s owners, revealed it had 200,000 fewer passengers last year, a drop of 15% to 1.4 million.

Cardiff Airport blames the drop on capacity cuts by bmibaby, the economic downturn, as well as disruption caused by the volcanic ash cloud and severe winters.

However, its nearest rival Bristol Airport has seen continued year-on-year growth – with its passenger numbers increasing 2% last year, up to 5.67 million.

And there were warnings that more Welsh travellers would be prepared to make the journey across the Severn to fly from the English airport as a result of the new levies.

In the past seven months Cardiff Airport has increased the cost of pre-book parking, as well as introducing a drop-off charge for drivers and a fee to use its baggage trolleys.

Conservative transport spokesman Darren Millar said any additional expense, particularly during the economic downturn, could deter people from travel.

"It’s disappointing that the overseas owners of the airport don’t seem to want to take an interest in making it more convenient to fly from Cardiff." he said.

At the start of this month the airport began charging its passengers an extra 25% to pre-book their parking at its onsite long-stay car park.

It now costs £81.50 to park at the Rhoose terminal’s NCP car park for a week. What NCP’s booking website does not state is that motorists who do not pre-book and simply drive up to take a ticket at the gate continue to pay £65.

NCP told the Western Mail the new £16.50 online price hike was set by Cardiff Airport, which owns the car park. Cardiff Airport, meanwhile, said its pre-booking was handled by various third party companies and said it was reviewing these arrangements.

The airport said it "regretted any inconvenience" caused to passengers and said it would liaise with NCP to ask them to change the website’s wording.

A survey of NCP’s seven airport car parks yesterday showed Cardiff Airport was also the most expensive to book a one-week car park space.

Gatwick airport was the next costliest at £56.99 a week in March, followed by Norwich (£54.99), Glasgow (£53), Heathrow (£51.99), Birmingham (£46.79) and Edinburgh (£41.49).

Cardiff Airport said it was unfair to compare airport car parks like-for-like and said it didn’t consider NCP London Gatwick and London Heathrow to be "onsite".

Last month Cardiff Airport also started charging passengers a £2 non-refundable fee to use baggage trolleys, as is already the case at Bristol Airport. Newport company Airport Cart Service, who supply the trolleys, receive all the income from the fee, which funds the new "easy to use" trolleys.

And last summer, Albertis introduced a £1 charge for drivers who want to pick up or drop off friends and relatives outside the Rhoose terminal.

Drivers can only avoid the fee by parking in the long-stay car park, which is free for the first 20 minutes. Newcastle, Birmingham and East Midlands airports, as well as the Abertis- owned Luton and Belfast airports, impose similar drop-off charges.

Mr Millar said it was impossible for Albertis to justify the pre-booking fee and, in combination with the other charges, it appeared to be "milking" its passengers.

His Tory colleague, South Wales Central AM Andrew RT Davies, added: "I have spoken to constituents that are perturbed by the introduction of charges for merely dropping off and picking up airport users.

"Also, I have heard of customers who have complained that they have not been made aware of premiums payable for booking their parking in advance, only to turn up and find that it was substantially cheaper on the day."

Mr Davies urged the Assembly Government to work closely with the airport to help secure a major new carrier and his call was echoed by Peter Phillips, the head of marketing at Cardiff Airport until 2008.

Mr Phillips, who as chairman of the Wales Air Network now campaigns for investment in the Welsh aviation industry, said the failure of Cardiff Airport had far-reaching consequences for local jobs.

He said: "Incompetence by Spain’s Abertis, owners of Cardiff Airport, is resulting in falling passenger numbers, rising prices and lost jobs – a disaster for Wales and the economy of its capital.

"Wales Air Network believes our Deputy First Minister should talk to Albertis’ chief executive urgently about a re- think of the multi-national toll road company’s approach to its Welsh subsidiary. Cardiff and Wales deserve better than a cynical and misguided policy from its international gateway."

A Cardiff Airport spokeswoman said it was in constant discussion with existing and potential airlines about opportunities to serve the Welsh market. In March a new four-weekly service to Zurich starts with Swiss airline Helvetic Airways.

She said the airlines’ decisions were influenced by factors such as market conditions, the region’s propensity to fly and an assessment of profitability.

Wales, she said, needs to work together to develop an economic strategy and the airport can only be part of that, not lead it.

An Assembly Government spokesman said any price increases or charges imposed at Cardiff Airport were a commercial matter for the operator.

He said the Government was committed to helping Cardiff Airport facilitate future development and keen to see the route network developed.

How Cardiff Airport responded to the 25% increase in pre-booked parking.

“Gate prices remained at the same rate with just an increase in line with the VAT increase on January 4.

“The airport is therefore recommending for passengers to turn up on site and pay gate prices and not to pre-book. Not having to pre-book car parking will allow passengers greater flexibility.

“The airport will also guarantee that passengers arriving to the site will have a space available in one of the three onsite airport car parks which are all situated close to the terminal, being more convenient for passengers accessing the main terminal building.

“Pre-booking is handled on behalf of Cardiff Airport by various third party companies. Cardiff Airport is reviewing these arrangements at present.

“We regret any inconvenience that may have been caused to passengers and invite them to contact the airport directly with any queries or concerns.”

How Cardiff Airport responded to its car park being the most expensive NCP airport car park in the UK“

The NCP website just shows pre-book prices for all of the airport car parks it operates. As above, Cardiff Airport is reviewing pre-booking with third party companies but gate prices remain unchanged and in line with other airport gate prices.

“A comparison of airport gate prices shows that Cardiff is comparable to other UK airports, including those also managed by NCP.

“We do not believe the NCP London Gatwick and London Heathrow car parks to be onsite airport car parks so are not comparable to actual onsite car parks but this can be clarified with NCP directly.

“It is also important to note that car park products may vary so you are not comparing a like-for-like product, for example our long-stay car parks are either a short walk from the terminal building or a short bus ride of approximately five minutes.

“Other airports long-stay car parks may be a significant distance from the terminal such as a 15- minutes bus ride and cars may be moved during the duration of the stay.”

How Cardiff Airport responded to the £2 baggage trolley charge

“The new high-quality, easy-to-use trolleys are required to replace the much older equipment and will improve the current service for those travelling through the airport.

“Newport company Airport Cart Service will supply and operate the trolley service. Cardiff Airport will not receive any income from this fee.

“The new scheme brings Cardiff Airport in line with other international and UK airports, including Bristol and Birmingham.

“A commercialised service also ensures trolley stocks are maintained and equip- ment standards are high.”

How Cardiff Airport responded to the £1 drop-off fee

“Visitors to the airport have the option of using the new priority drop & go and priority pick-up areas outside the terminal building, or a free drop off & pick-up area in Long Stay 1 car park, a short distance from the terminal building.

“Access to the priority drop & go area in front of the terminal building will be available for up to 10 minutes, at a charge of £1 and 20 minutes for disabled blue badge holders. For the priority pick-up area paying the £1 fee will entitle those picking up passengers 20 minutes in the short-stay car park, close to the terminal. After 20 minutes parking will be charged at the standard tariff.

“Other UK airports such as Birmingham, Edinburgh, Newcastle and London Luton all operate similar procedures and charges.”

How Cardiff Airport responded to having 200,000 fewer passengers in 2010

“The major factors are; capacity cuts by bmibaby, the impact of the volcanic ash incident, general market conditions affecting both airline and traveller decisions and the impact of adverse weather.

“However at Cardiff Airport schedule services and charter services remain strong and are set for moderate growth and the airport is continuing aggressive route development efforts.”
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales ... 8042180/2/[/textarea]

Nice to see an old friend of forums4airports featured in this report.

Last week we had the airport's head of commercial operations complaining that he couldn't get airlines to operate into Wales (see previous post in this thread); we now have a series of people coming forward asserting that the ancillary charges being applied by the airport are to blame for the continuing fall in passenger numbers, with more than a hint that because the airport is owned by an overseas company it is being short changed.

Well, the neighbouring Bristol Airport, upon which so much emphasis seems to be placed, is Australian and Canadian-owned and before that was Australian and Spanish-owned. Methinks the hint of xenophobia is misplaced.

The airport blames capacity cuts by bmibaby, the volcanic ash, adverse weather and general market conditions for its 15% drop in passenger numbers in 2010. Apart from the bmibaby impact, all UK airports suffered from the other factors in 2010 and many did not fare anything like as badly as CWL.

Furthermore, the slump has been going on for three years with a third of passengers lost since 2007. What are the reasons for that?

The airport also says that charter and scheduled services remain 'strong'. I'm not sure in what way because many have been cut savagely over the past three years.

I've also read several web and newspaper reports where the airline management has been boasting about its new routes to Verona, Dubrovnik and Naples in 2010. What it neglects to add is that each one of these is just a one-off, one-week offering.

It may be that CWL would do better with a change of ownership but it doesn't necessarily have to be Welsh or even British owned to have a chance of success.