Cardiff: Route Development & Rumours

[Samdorob]

The Cardiff Airport socials have teased an “exciting announcement soon” post featuring a ski shot.

Any takers on who/ what route that could be. Geneva/EasyJet maybe (I’m dreaming here)? 🤔

 

[MrFenner]

The Cardiff Airport socials have teased an “exciting announcement soon” post featuring a ski shot.

Any takers on who/ what route that could be. Geneva/EasyJet maybe (I’m dreaming here)? 🤔

I’d pass on EZY for the many reason listed on this site over the years.

But am definitely presuming another ski route (hopefully?) and pray it’s not just a continuation of CMF announcement… I’d guess, if anything, GVA.

🤞

 

[Jerry]

I’d pass on EZY for the many reason listed on this site over the years.

But am definitely presuming another ski route (hopefully?) and pray it’s not just a continuation of CMF announcement… I’d guess, if anything, GVA.

🤞

Easyjet UK/Europe maybe but could we rule out Easyjet Switzerland? Who else would be candidates for a Geneva route? Another option could be TUI and Turin maybe? But would TUI want to operate 2 Ski routes from Cardiff?

Salzburg is another that was mentioned elsewhere and of course TUI need to fill the schedule of 2 based aircraft in winter.

 

[MJC73]

Turin would be brilliant. Works as a ski route and flight only route.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

Innsbruck has previously been operated by TUI (Thomson) alongside Chambery.

 

[Nuffsaid]

Whilst I would like this to be EasyJet three times a week to Geneva, my money is on Tui to either Salzburg or Innsbruck.

 

[geoff]

let's hope the rumour is correct, whatever the destination any route would be very welcome.

 

[Jarvo]

Tui Salzburg looks confirmed 👌

 

[Jerry]

With the news of the new Salzburg route Cardiffs route network now looks like this
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Edinburgh
🇮🇪&NI Belfast City, Dublin
🇳🇱Amsterdam
🇫🇷Chambery
🇦🇹Salzburg (New)
🇭🇷Dubrovnik
🇧🇬Bourgas
🇹🇳Enfidha
🇵🇹Faro
🇲🇽Cancun (limited flights)
🇧🇧Bridgetown (limited flights)
🇨🇾Larnaca, Paphos
🇪🇸Reus, Alicante, Malaga, Ibiza, Menorca, Mallorca
🇮🇨Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria,Fuerteventura (New)
🇬🇷Corfu,Kefalonia,Rhodes, Heraklion,Zante, Kos.
🇹🇷Antalya, Dalaman
In all that's 32 direct destinations.

32 destinations is pretty good and it shows how the leisure side of the airports business is recovering i expect we'll see more to come in the future there. One concern i have is the connectivity side. Only 4 routes that could be called that type of route with the glaring ommission for me is Paris.

And for comparison with other airports Aberdeen has 30, Inverness 12, Exeter 26, Southampton 15, Bournemouth 40, Belfast City 25, Teesside 12, Humberside 5, Norwich 16 and Southend 14.

 

[Nuffsaid]

CWL definitely needs to get its Paris link back. Not to Orly but CDG for better international connectivity. DUB and EDI both should be at a minimum of 2 services per day.
It would be good to get Qatar back but that ship has now sailed.

 

[Jerry]

CWL definitely needs to get its Paris link back. Not to Orly but CDG for better international connectivity. DUB and EDI both should be at a minimum of 2 services per day.
It would be good to get Qatar back but that ship has now sailed.

The only realistic option for that would be Air France and actually Air France not the mess that was Orly last time.
I think realistically the challenge for Edinburgh at the moment is to get a daily ATR72 flight. Qatar is gone and not realistically coming back imo.
Both Edinburgh and Paris should be the focus for the Welsh government and Visit Wales to bring in tourism and also KLM going back to 3 daily.

 

[StanMan]

I agree with the sad view that the Doha route is not to return - the route was very dependent on the flow of non EU students and their families to the south Wales universities, but the changes in UK government immigration and Visa rules has effectively decimated that market, to the detriment of the universities and CWL.

 

[gulftraveller]

I agree with the sad view that the Doha route is not to return - the route was very dependent on the flow of non EU students and their families to the south Wales universities, but the changes in UK government immigration and Visa rules has effectively decimated that market, to the detriment of the universities and CWL.

Even then it was not a viable route. The lack of cargo and poor premium uptake were the biggest problems.

 

[Jerry]

Even then it was not a viable route. The lack of cargo and poor premium uptake were the biggest problems.

How do you know that? The route passenger wise was growing, i don't think we'll ever know how the route would have developed. Route wise though a ME3, USA and Canada route which were 3 targets for the Welsh government shouldn't be a priority right now, getting routes like Paris, Barcelona, Milan and Munich back should be more of a priority.

 

[Nuffsaid]

Cargo on the Doha route was growing nicely and with the new focus of CWL on cargo this could help with a possible relaunch of the route in the far future.
Getting links to Europes major hubs is more important at the moment.

 

[Jerry]

Getting links to Europes major hubs is more important at the moment.

Yep Amsterdam needs to be back to 3 daily, Paris CDG return at 5-7 weekly with Air France. If the Welsh government wants better connectivity to the world it needs to be focusing on routes like these. Some sort of partnership with Skyteam maybe?

 

[Jerry]

When it comes to an airport like Cardiff which is a small regional airport in its size but also fills the role of a national airport what's realistic when it comes to air connectivity routes? By connectivity I mean a route that can generate inbound tourism and connect people travelling to and from Wales globally like a hub route.
At the moment Cardiff has Dublin 4-6 weekly, Belfast 7 weekly, Edinburgh 4-6 weekly, Amsterdam 14 weekly and that's it route wise for connectivity.

Is that realistic for Cardiff or should we expect more like routes like Paris, Glasgow, Barcelona and even routes like Munich and Milan. Or are routes like that expecting too much?

 

[Samdorob]

When it comes to an airport like Cardiff which is a small regional airport in its size but also fills the role of a national airport what's realistic when it comes to air connectivity routes? By connectivity I mean a route that can generate inbound tourism and connect people travelling to and from Wales globally like a hub route.
At the moment Cardiff has Dublin 4-6 weekly, Belfast 7 weekly, Edinburgh 4-6 weekly, Amsterdam 14 weekly and that's it route wise for connectivity.

Is that realistic for Cardiff or should we expect more like routes like Paris, Glasgow, Barcelona and even routes like Munich and Milan. Or are routes like that expecting too much?

Barcelona would work I think. It has the leisure market, plus connection options. Better yet if you can transfer on a single booking. I feel Paris is the same to spite the recent setbacks of that route. Istanbul another potential one not previously served and would be good for connections.

As for inbound tourism I think Visit Wales could be doing more to attract overseas visitors. The trouble is for many countries they currently have to fly into England to visit wales, unless they go via Amsterdam. It’s a chicken and egg situation.

 

[Jerry]

Barcelona would work I think. It has the leisure market, plus connection options. Better yet if you can transfer on a single booking. I feel Paris is the same to spite the recent setbacks of that route. Istanbul another potential one not previously served and would be good for connections.

As for inbound tourism I think Visit Wales could be doing more to attract overseas visitors. The trouble is for many countries they currently have to fly into England to visit wales, unless they go via Amsterdam. It’s a chicken and egg situation.

I do think links to Barcelona and Paris are a must. Wales should have good connectivity to western Europe. I think at the moment a route like Istanbul is a bit ambitious for Cardiff.
The Welsh government's international strategy should be up for renewal this year i suspect it'll put heavy emphasis on North America, Middle East and Asia and I hope it will help put emphasis on hub routes like Amsterdam and Paris. Amsterdam needs to return to 3 daily and that should be a priority for the government not just as owners of the airport.
I think the challenge for Wales as a destination is always to be a standalone destination in its own right like Scotland and Ireland are rather than a part of England.

I do wonder if the Welsh government itself should be looking at some sort of deal/partnership with Skyteam or airlines within Skyteam like Air France-KLM

 

[Jerry]

Considering this will be in 2027 surely that should give the government itself a kick up the bum to get Paris back preferably with Air France.

Wales to stage Tour de France race as major announcement to be made this week

The UK is expected to host the Grand Depart of the 2027 Tour de France

www.walesonline.co.uk