Cardiff Airport - General Thread

[Jerry]

Special assistance needs improving but the airport isn't alone in that and the headline is a bit of clickbait.

The 'important' service Cardiff Airport has been told it needs to improve

The airport's chief executive said corrective steps had already been taken

www.walesonline.co.uk

 

[Jerry]

Its not Cardiff but Leeds Bradford but the video does make me wonder if something like this setting out a vision for the future of the airport in a video might have been a better way of announcing the future investment or at least accompanied it.

 

[Aviador]

Does the airport need more than just a vision to launch something like that though? The LBA vision is spearheaded on the back of actual investment to the tune of £200m.

One of the problems a publicly owned airport has is the lack of ability to invest due to tight public purse strings. Obviously the positives of investment are when times are good the public can reap the rewards through dividends returning to the public owner which can then contribute towards other things. Take Manchester airport as an example who reinvests much of the money into things such as the Metrolink. Manchester isn't necessarily the best example though as it is on a whole difference level when compared with Cardiff airport.

You could argue that the Welsh Government needs to commit infrastructure spending on the airport if it is serious about supporting the airports growth and then a supporting growth vision could work for CWL too.

 

[Jerry]

Does the airport need more than just a vision to launch something like that though?

Well they have just proposed to spend up to £200 million over a decade on the airport. Which has caused a lot of debate about continued investment in the airport. But I suppose something like this would mean that they'd have to commit to a programme.

 

[Aviador]

I would expect a healthy debate especially if there's no sign of any return from this investment. A city of London banker once told to me that an airport need to have at least two major carriers before they would consider capital investment simple because of the risks involved. On the otherhand there's a saying you have to speculate to accumulate.
#CWLvision
#CWLinvestment

 

[Jerry]

I would expect a healthy debate especially if there's no sign of any return from this investment. A city of London banker once told to me that an airport need to have at least two major carriers before they would consider capital investment simple because of the risks involved. On the otherhand there's a saying you have to speculate to accumulate.
#CWLvision
#CWLinvestment

It might be now that could possibly be the longer term plan. Build the airport up over the next decade to attract investors. I believe it was the original plan when the government bought it.

 

[Aviador]

Has it been suggested what the money might be spent on?

 

[geoff]

Yes, the Transport Minister said that the 200 million, could be used as the airport deemed fit, eg. spent on persuading the airlines already operating at CWL, to increase the frequency of the routes they operate (EDI comes to mind), and hopefully persuade new airlines to CWL. It may also be used to improve infrastructure at CWL, and to try and increase cargo through the airport.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

It might be now that could possibly be the longer term plan. Build the airport up over the next decade to attract investors. I believe it was the original plan when the government bought it.

Lets not forget that is exactly what was happening before covid. 1.6m passengers and rising.

 

[Jerry]

Lets not forget that is exactly what was happening before covid. 1.6m passengers and rising.

And we have the same minister back in charge who was in charge from 2016-2021

 

[Jerry]

The relevant part is below. It will be interesting to see if they challenge it.

“We are aware of the Welsh Government’s further substantial £206m state subsidy proposal for Cardiff Airport, and we expect to be formally notified by the Competition and Markets Authority, given Bristol Airport’s close proximity, positive economic impact and existing service provision for many customers from South Wales.”

Bristol Airport on Welsh Government plans to give £200m-plus to Cardiff Airport

The Welsh Government said the planned subsidy backing for the airport will support its growth over the next decade

www.business-live.co.uk

 

[MJC73]

I'd tell Bristol to get back in their box.

 

[geoff]

According to the Business Live article, 1.96 million Welsh passengers travel from BRS, out of a total of nearly 10 million, they would have a cheek to object to anything CWL does, apparently BRS are going to invest over £400 million themselves in redevelopement at BRS.

 

[8mileshigh]

The difference being that Cardiff is being subsidised by the Welsh Government and hence the tax payers and Bristol is investing without any Government Subsidy therefore no drain on national or local government. That would appear to make it unfair competition so possibly grounds for a challenge.

 

[Jerry]

According to the Business Live article, 1.96 million Welsh passengers travel from BRS, out of a total of nearly 10 million, they would have a cheek to object to anything CWL does, apparently BRS are going to invest over £400 million themselves in redevelopement at BRS.

Well I'd imagine from their point of view any passengers not traveling from Bristol is lost profits.

The difference being that Cardiff is being subsidised by the Welsh Government and hence the tax payers and Bristol is investing without any Government Subsidy therefore no drain on national or local government. That would appear to make it unfair competition so possibly grounds for a challenge.

Cardiffs owners are the Welsh government that's going to be its only source of investment. If it doesn't get that investment it essentially shuts down. Is that fair in itself considering all the jobs that rely on it? If Bristol owners are that concerned maybe they should offer to buy it and rum it in cooperation with the Welsh Government?

 

[Jerry]

Some interesting comments about the airport in this article. Many are also positive.

'Stop knocking Cardiff Airport' say passengers

It's been a positive summer for Cardiff Airport with an increase in passenger numbers and new routes, but our readers remain split on its performance

www.walesonline.co.uk

 

[geoff]

One male passenger in the article blamed CWL for his KLM flight being cancelled, without giving any reason for the cancellation, it was nice to hear that many passengers preferred CWL, to travelling from other airports.

 

[Barry Man]

From September look out for cargo flights about 3 a week for how long I don’t know ,talking about this in work on Friday with the ramp boys one thing I can say it’s nothing to do with our Rain Forest Friends , a bit more far east

 

[geoff]

3 cargo flights a week would be a great boost for the airport, and a good increase in airport movements.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

I'm not sure what the setup is and who the provider is but I think Teeside has recently gained a cargo flight a couple of times a week.