Cardiff Airport - General Thread

[TheLocalYokel]

https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/202...alth-coronavirus-airlines-airports-focus.html

As being discussed in the Bristol thread, this could be an interesting opportunity for CWL. With the current state of Aviation demand, and regional economies being hit hard, this could be marketed by the Airport in a certain way to gain public support, by giving an Airline a good deal to help boost the local economy. Before I would never have thought EZY would appear at CWL. But given all Airlines desperation at the moment, anything is possible. If the deal is right and CWL could offer lower costs than BRS to support routes that would be viable from both, then it could well happen. EZY will never leave BRS but it could have a small CWL base to compliment the BRS operation, offered at lower cost.
That being said, if I was CWL I'd avoid EZY as they would soon up sticks and go back to BRS at the end of the deal and when the market returns to decent levels. CWL should definitely be targeting Ryanair and even Wizz & Norwegian.
I do wonder, with WG government backing, if CWL is better placed than most privately owned Airports in this situation.
Time will tell.

Ryanair seem to be embarking on an even more blatant campaign, asking airports 'what's your best offer?'

I think that CWL could potentially be in a better position than private sector airports in that if the WG is prepared to chuck a lot of money at attracting an airline they would come in the present situation. Unlike the private sector, whose raison d'etre is a profitable company for its shareholders, the WG has said that its airport company has a dual aim; enhancing the Welsh economy and eventually running a profitable airport although the latter might have to wait still longer thanks to COVID.

There are two things that have to be considered though:

1. Like all public and private bodies post-COVID the WG will be under massive pressure for its financial resources in all sorts of areas.

2. An easyJet or Ryanair would be looking to operate mainly leisure routes to the sun as they know there is a market for that at CWL. Apart from providing some aviation-related jobs, that wouldn't enhance the Welsh economy one bit. CWL has traditionally found the going tougher with non-leisure routes. That said, if airlines have to operate with social distancing they won't be looking to fill as many seats and a big contribution from the WG might help to bridge the cap in income from passengers.

There is talk in the LBA forum that easyJet is to begin a BFS-LBA route (they used to operate a GVA ski season route at LBA). They already operate several routes to BHX and ski routes to BOH and SOU all from other bases, so that might be a more likely scenario at CWL than a base.

 

[Jerry]

There is talk in the LBA forum that easyJet is to begin a BFS-LBA route (they used to operate a GVA ski season route at LBA). They already operate several routes to BHX and ski routes to BOH and SOU all from other bases, so that might be a more likely scenario at CWL than a base.

The problem is that would they want to dilute their BRS routes? Ideally Easyjet could operate Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast but they probably would prefer those passengers to go to Bristol. Which leaves CWL in the dilemna of trying to replace lost routes and flights with potentially no airlines actually interested in operating from/to Cardiff as it doesn't seem like Loganair and Eastern Airways focus is anywhere near Wales at the moment.

 

[Jerry]

The likes of FR and EZY dont need any kind of marketing budget.

They probably are the airports best hope of getting passenger numbers up as at the moment I don't see much interest from the likes of Loganair and Eastern Airways and Easyjet. Even if they are to get them to add some sun routes and a daily Dublin it would be something positive.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The problem is that would they want to dilute their BRS routes? Ideally Easyjet could operate Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast but they probably would prefer those passengers to go to Bristol. Which leaves CWL in the dilemna of trying to replace lost routes and flights with potentially no airlines actually interested in operating from/to Cardiff as it doesn't seem like Loganair and Eastern Airways focus is anywhere near Wales at the moment.

It might not dilute the BRS numbers anyway in the sense that they would reduce although it might slow further route growth there.

For example, Ryanair began Malta at both CWL and EXT last year yet the BRS MLA figures didn't reduce - they rose from 67,000 in 2018 to 70,000 in 2019.

Looking back at sun routes such as PMI, ALC and AGP the arrival of Vueling at CWL had no adverse effect on BRS on those routes which continued to rise in the years since Vueling pitched up at CWL, eg Alicante at BRS 245,000 in 2013, 366,000 in 2019: Malaga 275,000-346,000: Palma 243,000-363,000.

 

[Cambrian]

Fox, What routes do think FR would operate. I cant think they would be interested in internal UK routes. Dublin 2x daily perhaps and then what? More sun routes?

 

[Foxlimayankee]

Fox, What routes do think FR would operate. I cant think they would be interested in internal UK routes. Dublin 2x daily perhaps and then what? More sun routes?

I think anything is possible. If CWL are going to throw money at it then I'd expect clauses so they can benefit. FR arent known for operating domestic routes, except for from STN, but things are going to be very different. Any domestic route would need to be viable on a 150+ seater jet. So DUB and EDI, BHD/BFS at a push.
On top of that I can see Greece becoming more popular as a holiday destination, along with Spain, Canaries and Italy.

Let's not forget that some of the traditional holiday routes also bring in inbound tourism. Barcelona, Malaga/Alicante, Rome, Milan all have a level of inbound traffic to Wales. The starting point needs to be holiday traffic, as that what CWL can sustain but it should be a good starting point for return to growth.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I think anything is possible. If CWL are going to throw money at it then I'd expect clauses so they can benefit. FR arent known for operating domestic routes, except for from STN, but things are going to be very different. Any domestic route would need to be viable on a 150+ seater jet. So DUB and EDI, BHD/BFS at a push.
On top of that I can see Greece becoming more popular as a holiday destination, along with Spain, Canaries and Italy.

Let's not forget that some of the traditional holiday routes also bring in inbound tourism. Barcelona, Malaga/Alicante, Rome, Milan all have a level of inbound traffic to Wales. The starting point needs to be holiday traffic, as that what CWL can sustain but it should be a good starting point for return to growth.

I wonder if the BRS owners would stand idly by if they thought that they might lose a chunk of Ryanair business to CWL.

Until everything stopped for COVID Ryanair went to head to with easyJet at BRS on these routes, year-round unless stated:

Vienna - new route starting this summer by Lauda but now taken on by Ryanair after the Lauda VIE base closed although the Ryanair route next winter seems to be only operating until early January.
Sofia - ski season only
Grenoble - ski season only
Ibiza - summer only
Milan Malpensa
Turin - ski season only
Venice Marco Polo
Krakow
Faro
Alicante
Arrecife
Las Palmas
Malaga
Palma - Ryanair summer only, easyJet year-round
Seville
Tenerife South

There might be something there they could switch across the river if the price was right.

Greece is an interesting suggestion. Although easyJet operates eight Greek routes at BRS, only Athens is year-round with the others summer-only. Ryanair's only Greek offering is the summer-only Chania route, so they might be interested.

 

[TOM100]

Interesting article - no surprises here !

Budget Airlines Put Squeeze on Airports in Coronavirus Cost Drive

European low-cost airlines are pressuring airports to slash charges in return for resuming flights, as the COVID-19 shutdown intensifies their race with traditional carriers to lower costs and win post-pandemic business.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Cambrian]

Fox, interesting you mentioned Milan Malpensa and inbound tourism.My daughter used to live in southern Italy and her nearest airport was La Mezia (SUF). The first time I visited her we flew from Stansted with FR- never again as STN its a days trek from where I live in west . Wales. Next trip was with Alitalia from Heathrow vis Rome, and then a number a trips with Easy from Bristol via Milan. The last few trips were with Flybe from Cardiff to Milan and Easy on to SUF. With the exception of Flybe flights, there was probably as many Italians flying to and from the Uk as British. The Flybe passengers were mainly from south Wales with one or two Italians. I was told that the problem Flybe had was that nobody in Italy had heard of them where as both Easy and Ryanair had a major presence in Italy.
If Ryanair were to come to Cardiff in a major way, I am sure that they would draw passengers from both ends of the routes and not just as Flybe found, relying on passengers originating from the UK end only.

 

[Jerry]

Italy and Wales have had a connection due to immigration for a while. I would hope if there was a deal with Ryanair that Rome would be top of the list to be restored.

 

[Nuffsaid]

Excellent piece of nostalgia film on CWL in 1975 onthe airports twitter site.

 

[TOM100]

When the airport was busy......

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Excellent piece of nostalgia film on CWL in 1975 onthe airports twitter site.

Fascinating! I wallowed in nostalgia as it brought back memories of the times we used to take our kids on holiday in the 70s and first part of the 80s. Rhoose wasn't our local airport although we did use it once to fly with Britannia Airways to Palma.

Even on charter flights people's dress was so much more formal then as can be seen from the film. Flying wasn't the everyday experience it is now (pre Covid of course) so most people seemed to make an effort on what was for many of them a special occasion. It was a regular occurrence to meet families who had never flown before.

The narrator would be in hot water these days with his comments about the pretty female staff members.

The airport certainly looked busy in the film although CAA stats show that 209,000 passengers used it in the whole of 1975.

Many thanks for the link.

 

[Cambrian]

Bring back Cambrian airways, the airport needs you!

 

[TOM100]

And BCal and Midland......

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

Think they would settle for AirWales to be honest at this stage.

 

[TOM100]

True and they might settle for 209k pax next year lol

 

[Jerry]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1272842640459956225

 

[geoff]

It looks as though Stobart Air are aiming to set up base at BHD, could there be a chance for a service from them for CWL? Perhaps we might learn something on the 18th when the CWL management appear before the Senedd, regarding future prospects.

 

[TOM100]

Below is a link to evidence submitted by the airport to the Senedd for tomorrow’s committee. It is pretty bland and devoid of much new information. What surprises me is the lack of any future strategy for growth aside from the usual “we continue to talk to airlines”. I do hope the committee scrutinize the management thoroughly as there is a lot of taxpayers money at stake and I would like to see a more commercially aggressive approach (I hope they are not getting comfy behind state support and mentality). A lot of information is out of date around resumption of flying.

The only bit that caught my eye was the statement that Ken States and the WG have had to vary the terms of their commercial loan to keep them ‘solvent’ (inference that they are not solvent otherwise, which isn’t a big surprise). Maybe more will come out tomorrow but frankly they have to do better than this.

https://business.senedd.wales/documents/s101997/EIS5-13-20P5%20Evidence%20from%20Cardiff%20Airport.pdf