Vueling

[TheLocalYokel]

Although airlines and the airport might have been rightly criticised in the past for lack of advertising on routes at CWL I don't think this applies to Vueling. The airline has advertised its CWL presence widely around South Wales and even in one or two places in the Bristol area.

There was a reception for Vueling given by the Wales Government when the route started that was given a lot of media coverage in Wales.

The main reason is probably a lack of awareness of Vueling as an airline in Wales (despite the publicity programme) and in the rest of the UK (the same applies to Helvetic). easyJet and Ryanair are well known and though the easyJet fares from BRS to BCN were higher in many cases than the corresponding Vueling CWL-BCN fares the loads on the former actually increased substantially in April and May this year.

Some believe that Wales passengers have lost confidence in the airport because of the bmibaby experience. The recent almost continuous media coverage highlighting CWL's predicament hasn't helped, especially when so many people interviewed said they now look to BRS almost as of choice.

I'm sure that some are still unaware of Vueling despite the publicity. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Alicante and Palma routes that begin later this month are being much better supported.

 

[Em0866]

Maybe it is a case of that people are more interested in flying the PMI and ALC routes instead of BCN, as simple as that as these are the routes people want to fly.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Maybe it is a case of that people are more interested in flying the PMI and ALC routes instead of BCN, as simple as that as these are the routes people want to fly.

Could be, but i known Barcelona to be a really popular destination.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Maybe it is a case of that people are more interested in flying the PMI and ALC routes instead of BCN, as simple as that as these are the routes people want to fly.

Sun and sand routes always do well at CWL in terms of bums on seats during the main summer months. The same can't always be said for these routes in the winter which is probably the reason why no low-cost airline has taken baby's place as a based entity.

There are other routes that have always struggled, others that require smaller equipment than Vueling's 320s (or even their 319) and still others that shouldn't be marginal or worse, but sometimes are.

BCN at 3 x weekly in summer ought to be pulling in more than 58 passegers a trip, even if it is a new airline for Wales that is not well known starting in a recession. The fares haven't been high so that can't be a factor.

easyJet managed to carry nearly 12,500 to BCN from BRS in May and Ryanair carried over 9,000 to its version of Barcelona at Girona from across the Severn. CWL could muster fewer than 1,300.

Undoubtedly a significant proportion of the BRS passengers were from South Wales which makes it all the more puzzling that so few used their local airport at lower fares in many instances.

If Vueling to BCN fails it will give out more negative signals to airlines about CWL's ability to sustain all but the basic routes.

The CWL routes team must be hanging its head in frustration at the lack of support after all its hard work. At least they have some consolation in the excellent load on the first Monarch flight of the season to Florida.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Palma and Alicante

The 3 x weekly service to both the above destinations commenced today with an A319.

The aircraft routes PMI-CWL-ALC-CWL-PMI.

The 3 x weekly Barcelona service continues with an A320 as before.

 

[Aviador]

I can't help but think the 320 should be operating the Alicante and Palma flights with the 319 on the Barcelona route. I'm sure it's not that easy though.

Fingers crossed for some better loads. Cardiff is relying on it if they are to keep the airline on board.

 

[Aviador]

Barcelona:
Vueling carried 2,078 passengers in June, I believe it would of 12 rotations so an ave of 86 Pax per flight, an improvement on May but still only a 48% LF if operated by an A320!

Alicante:
Vueling carried 576 passengers in June, 3 rotations so an ave of 96 Pax per flight, if operated by A319 a LF of 67%.

Palma:
Vueling carried 383 passengers in June, 3 rotations so an ave of 63 Pax per flight, if operated by A319 a LF of 44%

The above data is based on all rotations being operated, if they did its not great reading, I really thought they would have done much better than this, lets hope July improves!

Shocking read Alphgolf. Vueling and Cardiff are going to have to achieve far better loads than this if they are to continue to operate on these routes. June, July, August and September are the busiest months even Vuelings best route from Cardiff with a 67% load factor is horrendous.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Shocking read Alphgolf. Vueling and Cardiff are going to have to achieve far better loads than this if they are to continue to operate on these routes. June, July, August and September are the busiest months even Vuelings best route from Cardiff with a 67% load factor is horrendous.

BCN is operated by a 320 and PMI and ALC by a PMI-based 319 - PMI-CWL-ALC-CWL-PMI.

The PMI and ALC routes only began in the third week of June so the figures must be looked at in the light that many outbound travellers did not return in the month, and the number of PMI/ALC based passengers is always likely to be far less than those emanating from Wales.

CWL-BCN actually had only 11 rotations/22 legs in June with the final two Saturday rotations of the month cancelled (presumably for commercial reasons), which gives an average load of just over 94 and a load factor of around 52%. Still grim.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Vueling - Summer 2013

BBC Wales reported yesterday that Vueling is looking at increasing flights from CWL next summer, though the quote from the airline spokesman is somewhat vague and may just mean that the Alicante and Palma flights will begin earlier next year than they did this year (end of June).

Vueling says it is 'reasonably happy' with its Cardiff results so far though it's looking for higher loads on the Barcelona route which is to be downgraded from a 320 to a 319 later this year.

It's not a ringing endorsement of the Cardiff network (currently 3 x weekly to Barcelona, Alicante and Palma) but it does hold out hope that by seemingly committing to next summer the chance is there to build the loads.

It seems there will be no winter service though which was the hope of some when Vueling first announced it was coming to CWL.

I get the impression that summer 2013 will be make or break so far as CWL and Vueling are concerned.

Alicante and Palma ought to be no problem but the doubt still remains over Barcelona, even with a smaller aircraft. Both Thomson and bmibaby tried BCN from CWL for a summer season in consecutive years and, even with help from the then Wales route development fund (it no longer exists), they were not successful.

The figure quoted in the BBC report for the BCN July passenger numbers is nonsensical.

Link to BBC report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-sout ... s-19069177

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Vueling at CWL in July 2012

The first full month of the 3 x weekly Alicante and Palma routes saw ALC with 2,969 passengers which is an average load of 106 and a load factor of 74% on the 144-seat A319, and Palma with 2,584 passengers which is an average load of 92 and a load factor of 64% on the 144-seat A319.

Given that these are new Vueling routes the figures might be taken as relatively encouraging. With the Vueling A319 having only 144 seats (easyJet's have 156 seats) load factors will be pretty decent as the routes develop.

Barcelona carried 2,793 passengers which is an average load of 93 and a load factor of 52% on the 180-seat A320. This is identical to June's load factor and the highest since the route began in the spring of this year.

The load factor would have been higher on a 319 (around 65%) which is the reason Vueling is to downgrade the CWL-BCN route from a 320 to a 319, I believe in September.

It obviously makes sense because 180 seats per sector are far too many for the CWL-BCN route.

Incidentally, Southampton-Barcelona which started at the end of June did worse in terms of loads in July than CWL-BCN, so perhaps the disappointing passenger figures rally are linked with Vueling being not well known in the UK.

 

[Aviador]

It will be down to the all important yield of course. They will know what to expect in the first year of operation from other start-up routes and bases. I do hope Vueling are reasonably happy with the figures so far so they can continue into next year to give the routes time to mature. Cardiff needs to regain it's reputation and a stable airline such as Vueling who operate reliable services will help Cardiff airport to do this. As an airline Vueling is performing well and they will be looking to renew the airlines fleet over the coming years. The size of aircraft they choose could impact the routes they operate if the new aircraft type(s) are too large for marginal routes so fingers crossed for Cardiff.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Vueling at CWL in August 2012 - CAA stats

Better figures this month though it might be hoped that if any month was going to do well on these routes it would be August.

Barcelona saw 3474 passengers giving an average load of 134 and a load factor of 74% on the A320 (180 seats). Had the A319 been used (144 seats) the load factor would have been 93%. As stated in the July update the BCN route will downsize to a 319 in September.

Alicante and Palma both used the 144-seat A319. ALC saw 3250 passengers, average load 125, load factor 87%, and PMI handled 3054 passengers, average load 117, load factor 81%.

Some encouragement there then for Vueling and the hope that the airline will return in summer 2013 - its off-stage chatter suggests that it is coming back. Recent comment from the CWL management also points strongly in that direction.

 

[Aviador]

Lets hope so TheLocalYokel, the airport needs some good news.

 

[Em0866]

I think the key thing here is to try and tempt those who are from this side of the Severn who are going over to BRS, this would be a start IMHO.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Vueling summer 2013 at CWL

Vueling is definitely returning to CWL in summer 2013.

Alicante will commence on 2 April at 3 x weekly (Tue, Thurs and Sat) the same frequency as summer 2012 but the service didn't begin then until towards the end of June.

The much requested Malaga will commence as a new Vueling route to CWL on the same date and with the same frequency and days of operation as the Alicante service.

Barcelona will commence at the end of March (as in 2012) but is shown as 2 x weekly (Fri and Sun) against 3 x weekly in 2012.

None of these routes are bookable yet beyond the end of June 2013 but that seems pretty much par for the course with Vueling at this stage of the booking cycle - easyJet does the same.

The only absentee from 2012 at the moment is Palma that commenced towards the end of June in 2012. Many still expect it to appear for some part of summer 2013.

I believe this is good news for CWL. It's steady progress and there is always the chance of more to come for next summer.

 

[Em0866]

This is good news for Vueling for CWL at S13. I wonder if the BCN route will increase to 3 after a certain point in June? Good that AGP will appear there, and I think PMI will appear too, with a bit of luck. ALC is a no brainer, it's a good route from CWL

 

[bluebird94]

Cardiff airport has received a boost with a low-cost airline offering a new route between Cardiff and Malaga in Spain next summer.

Barcelona-based airline Vueling said it would fly to Malaga after demand from passengers and travel agents.

Although its Palma service is under review, Vueling said it would be offering 35% more seats from Cardiff next summer compared to 2012.

Cardiff airport posted an operating loss of £319,000 in 2011.

At a press briefing, First Minister Carwyn Jones said the Welsh government had worked with the airport over the summer to explore how it could be made more competitive.

He said he was also anticipating announcements about more new routes in the future, although he said he could not go into detail.

Javier Suarez, route planning senior manager at Vueling, which already operates three routes from Cardiff, said: "August and September have been better than expected giving us more confidence in the Wales market.

"Wales passengers and travel agencies have been demanding Malaga, our new route, since we started."

While Vueling's Barcelona service will now operate two days a week instead of three, the airline is revamping the schedule on the service in an effort to improve passenger numbers.

"We are also extending our Cardiff-Alicante route," said Mr Suarez.

"Last summer, we started this route on the 22nd of June. We will this coming year operate the route all the summer season, starting at the beginning of April."

But Mr Suarez conceded that the Palma service was still being evaluated and a decision was yet to be made.

In August, the Spanish airline reported a net profit of €7.7m in the second quarter of this year, €4.1m higher than the same time last year.

Steve Hodgetts, commercial director at Cardiff Airport, said: "We are very pleased to confirm the return of Vueling for summer 2013 and the service to Malaga in particular, which is highly desired for travellers from south Wales.

"We call on our customers to support Vueling and all of the airlines and tour operators using Cardiff Airport.

The Vueling services are important for Cardiff, with passenger numbers falling at the airport in the first half of 2012 overall. The airport blamed the fall on the loss of low-cost airline bmibaby.

Mr Jones has previously been highly critical of the management of the airport, which is owned by Spanish company Abertis.

Abertis has said it has no plans to sell but would listen to offers.

"I want Cardiff airport to realise its potential to be a modern well-connected success at the heart of our national infrastructure," the first minister told reporters in Cardiff.

A programme had been approved to "rebrand and refresh" the airport in time for summer 2013, he said.

Earlier this month, Swiss airline Helvetic said it was ending its flights from Cardiff to Zurich for the winter, blaming low passenger numbers.

Mr Jones said he was hopeful the service would resume next year.

The decision by bmibaby to pull out of Cardiff was "significant", the first minister said. "But I think we can now say the airport is moving in the right direction."

A marketing campaign to promote Wales as a tourism destination will be launched in Catalonia next year, including in Barcelona where Vueling has its hub.

Weird to see that PMI is under review, as it didnt do that bad this year, although it is nice to see AGP back with a loco at CWL!

Also nice to see that CWL have exceeded expectations in August and September according to VY's route manager which is good news!! :s_thumbsup

 

[Aviador]

Looks like the airports fortunes might be turning at long last. It will be an interesting one to follow over the next year or so.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Looks like the airports fortunes might be turning at long last. It will be an interesting one to follow over the next year or so.

Looking at CWL's history over the past five years and especially since bmibaby announced it was pulling out the bottom always seemed around 1 mppa, give or take a touch.

This has looked increasingly likely since the early part of the summer just ended, if it can be called a summer.

The recovery always hinged on someone taking over from baby. This time last year I thought that an airline would have come in to take on baby's sun and sand routes in summer 2012.

It turned out to be Vueling, probably an airline that few had considered with talk a year ago of Jet2, Monarch and even Ryanair.

Vueling actually had a relatively modest presence at CWL in summer 2012 but understandably so because it's an airline not well known in Wales or in the UK as a whole. It has to build an awareness because most of the passengers will be Wales or England-based on summer sun and sand routes.

2013's fortunes mainly depended on the return of Vueling. We now know they are coming back and, even with a reduced BCN and a doubt over PMI, the longer season and bigger aircraft (compared with 2012) will, all other things being equal, result in a rise in passenger numbers at the airport in the calendar year of 2013. Monarch will be flying weekly to Florida next summer too which will help the passenger totals.

It's too soon to speak of a major recovery but the early signs are now in place for some upward movement. In 2007 CWL handled 2.1 mppa so it's got to double its passenger numbers to get back to that figure. Clearly, that can't be done in a year or two, unless something sensational and unprecedented happens.

Vueling needs to be supported next year by the Welsh travelling public so that they will be encouraged to expand their services from the airport. If that can be done successfully other airlines will begin to sit up and take an interest.

CWL has long accepted that it does not capture enough passengers from neighbouring regions - this was spelt out in its master plan at the time it and other regional airports were enjoying the good years six or seven years ago. Now that it's fallen so far from those heady days grabbing punters from other people's primary catchments is even more important.

Much easier said than done though...............................

 

[Aviador]

Nobody has picked up on the potential acquisition of Vueling by British Airways owner the the International Airline Group IAG. This could have huge implications for Vueling's expansion plans at Cardiff.

International Airlines Group, owner of British Airways and Iberia, is looking at mounting a full takeover of Vueling, Spain's second biggest domestic airline. In a statement released after the close of markets on Wednesday, IAG said its board would discuss at a meeting on Thursday making an offer for 100% of the share capital of the Barcelona-based low cost carrier.

Full Story: http://www.sharecast.com/cgi-bin/sharec ... d=20484267

What might seem like a positive step by the IAG, they could insist the airline changes course with new objectives and new growth areas.