Cardiff Airport - General Thread

[Jerry]

It's great to see the arrivals board so busy today with French and Irish rugby fans coming to Cardiff for the Champions Cup final at the Principality stadium.
It also shows how Cardiff Airport helps facilitates and is even part of attracting these sort of events.

With the French flights from Lyon and Bordeaux and the extra flights from Dublin then CWL should see a boost of about 7000-7500 passengers for May 2025 from this event.

 

[Jerry]

With the French flights from Lyon and Bordeaux and the extra flights from Dublin then CWL should see a boost of about 7000-7500 passengers for May 2025 from this event.

6500 extra according to this article

Cardiff Airport welcomes 6,500 fans for major bank holiday rugby weekend

An additional 6,500 passengers travelled through Cardiff Airport on bank holiday weekend for a major European rugby tournament at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Held in the Welsh capital, the EPCR Challenge Cup Final took place on Friday 23 May, followed by the Investec Champions Cup Final...

nation.cymru

 

[Jerry]

Looks like the airport will have some sort of pop-up stalls after security

So that means for food options at the moment Cardiff Airport will have
Greggs (before security)
Tap & Brew (beer & hot dogs)
Y Castell (pub/restaurant)
Costa Coffee
51° Executive lounge
WH Smiths
Sheriffs (Biltong stall)

 

[Jerry]

It's hard to gauge the space from a photo but I wonder if in the future it could be ear marked as a space for another retail outlet?

 

[Jerry]

I know it's Dublin but it's a shame Cardiff doesn't have something similar. I believe that the flying club is a lot more planespotter friendly now.
Some sort of link up with the airport would be good if they could work with CWL and be an official area.

 

[Jerry]

6500 extra according to this article

Cardiff Airport welcomes 6,500 fans for major bank holiday rugby weekend

An additional 6,500 passengers travelled through Cardiff Airport on bank holiday weekend for a major European rugby tournament at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Held in the Welsh capital, the EPCR Challenge Cup Final took place on Friday 23 May, followed by the Investec Champions Cup Final...

nation.cymru

The official press release about the extra passengers.

Cardiff Airport - Cardiff Airport proud to welcome 6,500 fans for major bank holiday rugby weekend in Welsh capital

<p>An additional 6,500 passengers travelled through Wales’ Airport on bank holiday weekend for a major European rugby tournament at the […]</p>

cardiff-airport.com

 

[Samdorob]

I know it's Dublin but it's a shame Cardiff doesn't have something similar. I believe that the flying club is a lot more planespotter friendly now.
Some sort of link up with the airport would be good if they could work with CWL and be an official area.
View attachment 32508

Funny you should mention this. Brad Williams off of marketing at CWL was on GTFM and there was a mention about punters an enthusiast coming to view take offs and landings.

The interview starts at 1:13:30 in. A mention to the viewing platform at 1:32, but the whole interview is quite interesting.

Link to the show:

AutoPod Player

Listen to podcasts and live radio with AutoPod Player

player.autopod.xyz

 

[Jerry]

Funny you should mention this. Brad Williams off of marketing at CWL was on GTFM and there was a mention about punters an enthusiast coming to view take offs and landings.

The interview starts at 1:13:30 in. A mention to the viewing platform at 1:32, but the whole interview is quite interesting.

Link to the show:

AutoPod Player

Listen to podcasts and live radio with AutoPod Player

player.autopod.xyz

Thanks i listened to it. It was obviously a friendly interview on a station he'd worked at before but was a good listen.

 

[Jerry]

Looks like European Cargo are back.
View attachment 32535

 

[Nuffsaid]

Great news. I guess all the runway upgrade has mostly completed to allow them to perform operations again.

 

[geoff]

I was beginning to get worried that CWL might not see them again, the turn offs at each end of the runway, will certainly help with the ground movements of the A340, although I believe they have been short of a plane for some time because of long maintenance period.

 

[Jerry]

Great news. I guess all the runway upgrade has mostly completed to allow them to perform operations again.

Apparently the suspension was because of aircraft maintenance and cargo volumes going down. Cardiff is essentially the overflow for Bournemouth.

 

[geoff]

European Cargo in again today from Chongqing, there doesn't seem to have been many flights of late from Urumpqi not even into Bournemouth, perhaps there is a lull in production there.

 

[Jerry]

I don't why Cardiff continues to advertise Qatar Airways. That space could be used to advertise Ryanair and TUI.
View media item 19538Used the 51° Executive lounge today as well. Was a nice enough space to relax before my flight and it's good that they're serving hot food now though it is only breakfast items like pancakes and bacon rolls and lunch items like soup and potato skins. It's also table service not buffet.
View media item 19536
View media item 19534
View media item 19535

 

[geoff]

CWL news page published a large article today, stating that passenger numbers for this financial year are 15% up on 2024, and although the article is in part an advertisement for the routes available from the airport, it also states that the airport are continually talking to the current airlines at the airport, and potential new airlines to operate from the airport, to increase new routes.

 

[Jerry]

Its good to see more positive news where Cardiff Airport is concerned especially after the CEO departure.

Cardiff Airport - Cardiff Airport kicks off a busy summer season with expanded destinations

<p>The summer season is in full swing at Cardiff Airport, the National Airport of Wales, offering travellers a fantastic choice […]</p>

cardiff-airport.com

 

[Jerry]

Good to see Cardiff Airport has gone from needs improvement to very good.

https://www.caa.co.uk/newsroom/news...ts-but-finds-three-airports-need-improvement/

 

[Jerry]

TUI expansion in 2026 should definitely see Cardiff get back over the 1 million passenger mark probably push to 1.1 million especially if we see more from the other airlines especially Ryanair.
Would 1.2 million be to optimistic as the goal for 2026?

 

[geoff]

With the expanded winter offering from both TUI and FR, plus the 4th based TUI plane for the summer offering, and the expanded 2026 winter schedule from TUI due very shortly, I think 1.1 million by the end of 2026 is very realistic, providing world affairs don't scupper any hopes, with an outbreak of hostilities.

 

[Jerry]

With the expanded winter offering from both TUI and FR, plus the 4th based TUI plane for the summer offering, and the expanded 2026 winter schedule from TUI due very shortly, I think 1.1 million by the end of 2026 is very realistic, providing world affairs don't scupper any hopes, with an outbreak of hostilities.

Yeah i think so too. 1.2 million probably a bit too ambitious.