Cardiff Airport - General Thread

[superking]

Travel city used the 747 200. This was before the 747 400 came into service.

 

[Jerry]

It's a shame we don't get to see many 747 passenger flights from CWL anymore!
Would be nice one day to see Virgin Atlantice operating to Orlando! Guess i can dream!

 

[Foxlimayankee]

TCD used 747-300's after the -200's for the passenger Orlando flights before XL took over and switched to their own A330-200's.

 

[Cardiffbay]

Travel city used the 747 200. This was before the 747 400 came into service.

Travel city never got to operate the -400. They started with -200 and then moved onto -300 before the XL merger finished them off and they become a tour operator only selling flights on Virgin

 

[superking]

It's a shame we don't get to see many 747 passenger flights from CWL anymore!
Would be nice one day to see Virgin Atlantice operating to Orlando! Guess i can dream!

Jerry im sure the 747 flights went via BFS Some one will be able to confirm this.

 

[Cardiffbay]

Jerry im sure the 747 flights went via BFS Some one will be able to confirm this.

No they went direct. Flew once on a travel city 747-300 to Sanford.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I note that Mark Drakeford is set to become Wales's new first minister.

Has he shown much interest in aviation and CWL in particular, one way or the other? I believe he is an academic who was born in West Wales.

 

[Jerry]

I honestly don't know. He has been in the government since 2013 as firstly as Minister for Health and in 2016 Finance Minister. It will be curious to see if there will be any change towards the airport from the new Welsh Government as it was in essence Carwyn Jones project to buy the airport and revive it. Interesting times ahead.

 

[Jerry]

The airport is doing some work to arrivals. Does anyone know what they are doing?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1071068346471321600

 

[Jerry]

The airport is doing some work to arrivals. Does anyone know what they are doing?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1071068346471321600

Apparently these works are connected to the installation of new express passport scanners.

 

[Jerry]

I note that Mark Drakeford is set to become Wales's new first minister.

Just as a note. The new First Minister of Wales was voted into office by roughly 13,475 people. He got 53.9% of the vote out of a turnout of roughly 25,000 people. 175,000 were eligible to vote. He hasn't exactly inspired people to vote!
It will be interesting to see if he'll call an election because he doesn't really have much of a mandate.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Just as a note. The new First Minister of Wales was voted into office by roughly 13,475 people. He got 53.9% of the vote out of a turnout of roughly 25,000 people. 175,000 were eligible to vote. He hasn't exactly inspired people to vote!
It will be interesting to see if he'll call an election because he doesn't really have much of a mandate.

I understand the election was for a new leader of the Welsh Labour Party with those entitled to vote being either Welsh Labour Party members or people in affiliated trade unions. It seems that his becoming First Minister is looked upon as a formality.

 

[Jerry]

Carwyn Jones will send his resignation to the Queen and then Mark Drakeford will put his name forward and the assembly will vote who they want but it's just a formality as Labour is the largest group. Wales surely is the only true democratic dictatorship with Labour's dominance. Change is sorely needed.

 

[Jerry]

Apparently these works are connected to the installation of new express passport scanners.

And a new lift and stairs are being fitted as well I'm led to believe.

 

[geoff]

Whilst we are talking about new additions to the terminal and as I haven't been to the airport for a while could I ask if the new additional airbridge is now fully operational and have the road works on five mile lane been fully completed.

 

[Jerry]

Whilst we are talking about new additions to the terminal and as I haven't been to the airport for a while could I ask if the new additional airbridge is now fully operational and have the road works on five mile lane been fully completed.

I don't think it is operational but i might be wrong, someone mentioned that the stands might have to be realigned and repainted.
5 mile lane won't be completed until the summer.

 

[geoff]

Thanks Jerry.

 

[Jerry]

18 December

Cardiff Airport unveils more improvements



After what has been the busiest summer in a decade, plans are underway at Wales’ national airport to prepare for the year ahead, by introducing further improvements to the customer experience and extending car park facilities to meet growing demand.
Following a successful first few months of operation, the new Meet & Greet zone will be extended to welcome even more passengers from April 2019. The service offers a more personal touch and features a number of benefits linked to taking the stress out of travel, customers simply drop off their keys and the vehicle is parked securely on site for the duration of the trip. The Meet & Greet car park, which is located directly opposite the terminal, also has a covered shelter with a special assistance call point where customers can request assistance to and from the terminal.
To simplify the booking and parking process for customers, there will be some re-configuration over the next few months, which includes re-naming each car park and improving wayfinding, with special assistance call points available throughout.
Customers travelling from 1st April 2019 can book Airport parking in our re-named Short Stay, Long Stay, Meet & Greet and Off-site car parks at cardiff-airport.com.
All existing drop-off and pick-up zones will remain in place.
Spencer Birns, Commercial Director at Cardiff Airport, said: “The improvements to our car parks will make the journey for our customers easier to navigate when they arrive at the Airport, and complement terminal improvements unveiled earlier this year.
“While changes to the configuration of the car parks are underway, customers who have bookings to use the car parks up to the 1st of April 2019 will receive some further information by email from our booking agent Holiday Extras.
We are grateful to our customers for their patience during this exciting phase in our continuing journey of transformation.”
Map of Cardiff Airport car parks, effective from 1st April 2019:

About Meet & Greet
Meet & Greet customers pre-book their vehicle online and, on arrival at the Airport, follow signs and drive straight into the designated Meet & Greet zone. The latest technology digitally processes the vehicle, checking in the booking and takes a series of digital images so that the condition of the vehicle is recorded on arrival and guaranteed for the duration of the customer’s stay. Then, simply drop off car keys at the reception, which is located directly opposite the terminal, and head straight to check–in. Our trusted team members park the vehicle in a safe and secure on-site location, where it remains throughout the trip.
Drop-off and pick-up zones at Cardiff Airport:
Location
Price
Drop-off zone (terminal front entrance)
Free of charge for up to 10 minutes
Drop-off and pick-up (Long Stay 1)
Free of charge for up to 20 minutes
Priority pick-up zone (Meet & Greet)
£1 for 10 minutes
https://www.cardiff-airport.com/news/2018/12/18/cardiff-airport-unveils-more-improvements/

 

[Jerry]

Not sure how accurate the info is but it's mentioned that Cardiff Airport might be advertising on coaches used on the Falcon Express route.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Not sure how accurate the info is but it's mentioned that Cardiff Airport might be advertising on coaches used on the Falcon Express route.

Which Falcon Express is that? The only one I know is the South-West Falcon service operated by Stagecoach that runs between Plymouth and Bristol via numerous stops including Bristol Airport.