Cardiff Airport - General Thread

[TheLocalYokel]

When I glanced at your post, Jerry, I thought for a minute that a Titan B 737 was operating Cardiff-Valley.

South Wales Aviation Group is showing a North Flying Metroliner operating the Valley service today.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Bloomin heck! We must be psychic. Typing near identical posts at the same time.

 

[Jerry]

When I glanced at your post, Jerry, I thought for a minute that a Titan B 737 was operating Cardiff-Valley.

South Wales Aviation Group is showing a North Flying Metroliner operating the Valley service today.

Now that would be something to see! A 737 flying into VLY!

 

[Jerry]

A little update on the Citywing/Van Air Europe situation. It looks like North Flying will be doing VLY again on Monday with the Titan 737 doing other destinations from the Isle of Man. On Sunday the 26th the Isle of Man to Gloucester service will be operated into CWL by North Flying. It will depart IOM at 18.20 and arrive at 19.15 at CWL and the GLO passengers will be bussed to GLO. The info is on their facebook page.

 

[Jerry]

Another update on Citywing. It looks like that North Flying will be taking over from Van Air Europe as the CAA has suspended their permission to fly in the UK and they are now being investigated by the Czech CAA over the Isle of Man incident.

 

[Jerry]

A £1.2bn Cardiff Capital Region City Deal that could transform the economy of south east Wales has been formally ratified today during a special ceremony at Cardiff Airport.

The Cardiff City Deal is expected to unlock significant economic growth across the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR), which includes the 10 local authorities of Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Bridgend, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Newport.


The aims of the CCR City Deal are to create jobs and boost economic prosperity by improving productivity, tackle worklessness, build on foundations of innovation, invest in physical and digital infrastructure, provide support for business, and ensure that any economic benefits generated as a result are felt across the region.

CLICK TO PLAY


The leaders of the 10 local authorities within the CCR signed the City Deal document in a ceremony at Cardiff Airport.

St David's Day sign off for £1.2bn City Deal that aims to create 25,000 new jobs
'Historic day'
Councillor Andrew Morgan, chair of the CCR Regional Cabinet, and leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, said: "Today is an historic day for the Cardiff Capital Region.

Cllr Andrew Morgan at the signing of the City Deal (Photo: HUW JOHN, CARDIFF)
“Leaders and officers have worked extremely hard over the past 16 months to get the City Deal to this position, particularly in terms of reaching agreement on the governance and accountability of the Regional Cabinet.

“Working with stakeholders, and in particular business, we will bring about an economic and social step-change in the Cardiff Capital Region, through improved transport, supporting innovation, an improved digital network, developing skills, supporting enterprise and business growth, and through housing development and regeneration.”

£1.2bn City Deal which promises to create 25,000 new jobs clears final hurdle
How much money is there?

The South Wales Metro will be part of the City Deal (Photo: Birmingham Mail)
The City Deal includes funding of £734m for the South Wales Metro, of which over £500m is provided by the Welsh Government and £125m from the UK Government.

The UK Government has provided £375m, and the 10 local authorities have agreed a commitment to borrow a combined total of £120m as part of the Wider Investment Fund.

Lord Heseltine examines business case for £1.3bn Swansea City Deal
The next steps
Today’s signing means the Regional Cabinet of the 10 authority leaders has come out of shadow, and the City Deal will enter into a transition phase.

The Cardiff Capital Region Transition Plan will detail key activity to be undertaken, including establishing a Regional Office to drive the delivery of the Regional Cabinet’s work programme in anticipation of receiving proposals. This includes the creation of a bespoke impact assessment model for those proposals.

The leaders of the 10 local authorities sign the City Deal (Photo: HUW JOHN, CARDIFF)
The transition phase will also see the creation and development of three advisory bodies to the Regional Cabinet - the CCR Economic Growth Partnership, a region-wide business representation organisation and an Employment and Skills Board, and one delivery body, the Regional Transport Authority.

The £1.3 billion City Deal projects aiming to transform the economy of the Swansea Bay City Region
First Minister's comment
First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “I’m delighted that the landmark £1.2bn Cardiff Capital Region City Deal has been formally ratified.

“The Welsh Government has worked closely with the ten local authorities and the UK Government to negotiate the city deal, which is the first in Wales. The Welsh Government’s contribution of over £500m in funding for the Metro was instrumental in securing the deal. The Metro will be key to delivering our plans to improve transport connectivity and economic prosperity in the region.

“I am pleased that the city region has now reached the stage where it can begin the work of delivering projects that will make a real difference to the economy of the region, and ultimately, to people’s lives.”

Chairman of Cardiff Airport, Roger Lewis, who chaired the initial Cardiff City Region advisory board, said: "We salute you all [10 local authorities] for your vision and leadership to commit to build a confident, collaborative, connected region, primed for economic growth.

"This Cardiff Capital Region City Deal is a 'big deal,' based upon a unity of purpose, a coming together of ten authorities, alongside the Welsh and UK governments.

"And it has the power to significantly transform so many peoples' lives for the great good."

Professor Kevin Morgan, of Cardiff University’s School of Geography & Planning, said: “Cardiff University very much welcomes the City Deal.
“We’re keen for partners to make use of our expertise and resources, particularly our £300m Innovation Campus which can help boost prosperity in the City Region.


“The university was involved right at the outset of the City Region and City Deal process. We have unrivalled expertise across industry, business, government and the Third sector that can help deliver real economic and social benefits for South East Wales.”

 

[superking]

announced today the ford plant in bridgend closing. bad news from there. the first minister would not comment on it.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

From what ive read It's not closing as such but there will be a high number of job cuts.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Cardiff City Deal

This should certainly boost the overall economy in the coming years and CWL will benefit both directly and indirectly.

Wales is certainly fortunate in having its own government to support this sort of thing which obviously opened up the coffers from Westminster to chip in impressively.

I compare this with the one billion pounds promised the new West of England Combined Authority. One billion sounds wonderful until you realise it's spread over the next thirty years - about 30 million a year.

 

[Jerry]

Cardiff City Deal

This should certainly boost the overall economy in the coming years and CWL will benefit both directly and indirectly.

Wales is certainly fortunate in having its own government to support this sort of thing which obviously opened up the coffers from Westminster to chip in impressively.

I compare this with the one billion pounds promised the new West of England Combined Authority. One billion sounds wonderful until you realise it's spread over the next thirty years - about 30 million a year.

Yes it is good for the area especially with improving the transport network and helping towards bringing in a Metro and any increase in jobs and wealth will be good for CWL.

announced today the ford plant in bridgend closing. bad news from there. the first minister would not comment on it.

I don't think it's closing but it is trouble. I believe one the engines it makes for Jaguar won't be made there after 2020 as Jaguar are going to do it themselves. In the short term there will probably be job cuts.

 

[superking]

ford shutting every thing in bridgend might be press drama reporting again. all will become clear over the coming months. lets hope not all as much uncertainty with big firms in wales. be nice to report lots of jobs generated not losses in wales. I would think more pax from bridgend use cwl than brs from that part of wales.

 

[Jerry]

A new strategic partnership between the Welsh government and Heathrow airport was signed at Cardiff Airport today.

A new partnership could see a flight from Wales to Heathrow Airport
Airport chairman says it could boost economy in Wales by £6.2bn

BYCHRIS PYKE

• 06:00, 6 MAR 2017
• UPDATED17:58, 6 MAR 2017

BUSINESS

The Welsh Government and Heathrow Airport are signing a partnership

• 15

A new partnership between the Welsh Government and Heathrow Airport could help deliver 8,400 new skilled jobs and £6.2bn in economic growth for Wales.

An agreement is set to be signed today signalling the start of what aims to be a close working relationship between the two.


It will look at mutually beneficial commercial opportunities to support economic growth and the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Set to become Europe’s largest privately-funded infrastructure project, an expanded Heathrow will need extensive support from UK manufacturers and SMEs to deliver the project on-time and on-budget.

'Broaden supply chain'
This partnership opens up new business opportunities in Wales as Heathrow, which invests more than £1bn a year at its site, wants to broaden its supply chain to support demand.

The partnership will mean airlines wanting to operate a route from Wales to Heathrow would be eligible to bid for the £10m route development fund.

First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones (Photo: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
Plans revealed for huge new development and train station in Cardiff that could create 15,000 jobs
The first ever Heathrow Business Summit Wales will take place on July 5 providing Welsh businesses with the opportunity of winning new business with the airport’s biggest suppliers.

It will also look at the possibility of locating off site manufacturing logistic hubs in Wales to support delivery for the third runway.

This new strategic partnership will be signed in Cardiff by First Minister Carwyn Jones and Heathrow’s chairman Lord Paul Deighton today.

Construction firms urge support for expansion at Heathrow Airport
Lord Deighton said: “I want to ensure that every corner of Britain benefits from Heathrow expansion. This strategic partnership will bring us closer to Wales and help us to deliver an expanded Heathrow.

We want to make it a success'
“A new Heathrow runway will unlock up to 8,400 new skilled jobs and underpin up to £6.4bn in growth from construction through to increased tourism and exports for Wales. This new partnership is a sign of our commitment to ensuring Heathrow expansion delivers tangible benefits for every corner of Britain and we are looking forward to working closely with the Welsh Government and Welsh businesses to make it a success.”

The First Minister said the partnership “opens the door” for Wales to explore new opportunities particularly for Wales’ existing supply chain companies that have the experience and expertise to support infrastructure projects at Heathrow.

He said: “I would certainly like to see a far higher percentage spend in Wales and the Welsh Government will do all it can to support companies in Wales to bid and win more business at Heathrow.

“I am also pleased to announce that plans are already underway to host the first Heathrow Business Summit in Wales, where our supply chain companies will have the chance to meet and discuss opportunities with Heathrow’s procurement team.

“It certainly marks a great start for this new relationship and there are very many other areas we are keen to explore with Heathrow Airport.”

Heathrow Airport
Runway expansion at Heathrow would create 8,400 jobs in Wales say its backers
The UK Government confirmed its backing of the expansion of the west London airport in October last year.

At the time, the First Minister welcomed the announcement but said he wanted to see Wales get a fair allocation of landing slots and a spur rail link to Heathrow from the mainline allowing direct rail travel from South Wales.

The planned spur would enable travellers to avoid going into and out of Paddington to get to Heathrow. Trains would deviate from the line towards London after Slough, between the stations Langley and Iver, and go into a tunnel that would take them to Terminal 5.


The rail journey between Reading and Heathrow would be reduced by around 35 minutes. The project has been out for public consultation and feedback is currently being reviewed before another round of consultation.

If given the go-ahead, work could begin in 2019 and be completed by 2024.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/busine...partnership-between-welsh-government-12695511

 

[Jerry]

The part i find interesting is the £10 million route development fund for flights from Wales to Heathrow. A lot of people on facebook are assuming flights from Cardiff to Heathrow but i'm wondering if the Welsh government is hoping the 3rd runway will allow flights from place like Anglesey and Hawarden and Pembrey?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

By coincidence I was reading the article on Wales Online when you were posting it. I imagine any service from LHR to Wales would be to CWL. The other airports would not generate sufficient passenger numbers to take up a LHR slot. I remember a year or two ago the LHR CEO saying that a third runway there would enable services to a number of domestic airports and I think CWL was mentioned then as being one, although in the end of course airlines decide which routes they will operate, not airport CEOs.

 

[Jerry]

By coincidence I was reading the article on Wales Online when you were posting it. I imagine any service from LHR to Wales would be to CWL. The other airports would not generate sufficient passenger numbers to take up a LHR slot. I remember a year or two ago the LHR CEO saying that a third runway there would enable services to a number of domestic airports and I think CWL was mentioned then as being one, although in the end of course airlines decide which routes they will operate, not airport CEOs.

There is a video of the Debra Barber on the BBC news website being interviewed about it and she said that all the airport could do was provide the data and then it was up to the airlines if they felt the routes were worth it.
Also there was a dose of realism from her in that she said that CWL will do all it can to provide routes but that there were destinations that only an airport like Heathrow could provide.
Though a Heathrow link would be great i do think it's highly unlikely even when the 3rd runway gets built and personally I think if there is a £10 million pound route development fund and it wasn't restricted to Heathrow only then it would be better spent on persuading an airline like Monarch, Vueling or Jet2 to base aircraft in a similar deal to Flybe. If it was for long haul then maybe use it to attract Emirates or United or Delta.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

Money shouldn't be given to Monarch, Jet2 or even to a point Vueling. Their business is holiday markets. I'm sure they do provide some degree of inbound tourism but not much. I include Vueling because if their current route network from CWL. If they were to base then a different route network may bring more people into Wales rather than take them, and their money, out of Wales. BE are currently offering a good mixed network that would help bring people into Wales. If money is to be used it should be used to help the economy, not boost passenger figures through the Airport

 

[Jerry]

Boosting passenger figures will boost the economy. If say Monarch based 2 to 3 aircraft at CWL that would create jobs not just pilots and cabin crew but ground handlers, luggage handlers, cleaners, extra check in staff and extra security and staff to work the bars and the cafes and duty free shops in the airport. Also it has a knock on effect outside the airport as well for the firms that supply Monarch with the catering and dry goods as an extra 4 to 6 flights a day will need supplying and those supplies of food and toilet rolls will need packing and delivering to the airport and to the planes. It is an economic investment. How many people wouldn't have jobs at the airport now if Flybe weren't there with their 3 aircraft?
Does anyone know how many people work at Cardiff airport? Not including BAMC.

 

[superking]

Money shouldn't be given to Monarch, Jet2 or even to a point Vueling. Their business is holiday markets. I'm sure they do provide some degree of inbound tourism but not much. I include Vueling because if their current route network from CWL. If they were to base then a different route network may bring more people into Wales rather than take them, and their money, out of Wales. BE are currently offering a good mixed network that would help bring people into Wales. If money is to be used it should be used to help the economy, not boost passenger figures through the Airport

I agree in what you say the money was intended for incentives in bringing pax to wales. the likes of the holiday airlines getting hand outs it should not be as some money coming into wales but more or less airport only and not the wider picture of wales in inbound holiday pax etc were brought in. what
money was intended for hasn't really happened as much as it should have done.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Does anyone know how many people work at Cardiff airport? Not including BAMC.

I've had a brief scout around the Internet and the only thing I found was this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-34683248

It will be seen that this report (published in 2015) suggests that the airport sustains 1,700 jobs and is worth £100 million to the economy. Whether they are all fulltime jobs (probably not) and whether they include BAMC and whether they are all jobs actually at the airport is not clear.

 

[Jerry]

I agree in what you say the money was intended for incentives in bringing pax to wales. the likes of the holiday airlines getting hand outs it should not be as some money coming into wales but more or less airport only and not the wider picture of wales in inbound holiday pax etc were brought in. what
money was intended for hasn't really happened as much as it should have done.

Problem with inbound tourism in Wales is that it's a small market as Wales doesn't have the profile of the other countries of the UK and Wales isn't a hot country so can't rely on the weather so it limits the potential market to outdoor activities and city breaks and people looking to holiday somewhere different. That will only attract a certain amount of people and many of the ones attracted by the outdoor activities will graduate towards North Wales and Snowdon and there access will be Manchester airport. There is also big sporting events but these only happen a couple of times a year. The inbound tourist traffic into Cardiff airport will always be small.