Cardiff: Route Development & Rumours

[t.ash.27]

So I saw this too. When I did a bit more digging there were other positions including cabin crew advertised for easyJet at Cardiff. The only issue is when you clicked through they go to a dead link.

A few possibilities here:
- They’re not for Cardiff, but just trying to attract people from the Cardiff area. E.g I think Emirates had a recruitment drive in Cardiff recently.
- It’s legitimate, but released earlier than they should have been as they only appear on this one third party website.
- It’s fake, potentially some automatic AI rubbish.

There’s other listings for easyJet related positions here. Unfortunately to me it looks a little too good to be true: https://uk.clickajobs.com/jobs/airport/cardiff-south-glamorgan-wales

The site also has jobs posted for easyJet bases at Blackpool and Cambridge. They are using different job titles than easyJet use as well. Unfortunately they are fake

 

[Tinkerman]

Hays Travel have posted a “Big Orange Announcement coming soon from Cardiff Airport” … Unless they’ve also seen the same and came to the same conclusion?

 

[Jerry]

It’s fake, potentially some automatic AI rubbish.

I personally think it's fake. Whether you think Cardiff could be a base in the future or not i can't see Easyjet opening a base straight off like this without a presence already at the airport.

Hays Travel have posted a “Big Orange Announcement coming soon from Cardiff Airport” … Unless they’ve also seen the same and came to the same conclusion?

Maybe but you'd have thought that Hays would get some sort of official confirmation or at least be a bit cautious.

 

[MrFenner]

Hays Travel have posted a “Big Orange Announcement coming soon from Cardiff Airport” … Unless they’ve also seen the same and came to the same conclusion?

Do you have a screenshot of said announcement for us to peek at?

And I presume it was on their Facebook and/or Twitter….?

 

[geoff]

Hays Travel shops in South Wales, certainly advertise a lot more holidays from BRS than CWL, I don't know if they have some kind of working arrangement with Easyjet or Jet2, but I would think they would be privy to any new announcement before we get to hear about it, but there again it might be false information, or perhaps Easyjet Europe starting a route from an away base.

 

[Jerry]

Hays Travel shops in South Wales, certainly advertise a lot more holidays from BRS than CWL,

Unfortunately there's more holidays on offer there, not sure about Easyjet but i do think they have a relationship with Jet2.

 

[geoff]

Just found an advert on facebook, advertising applications for an Easyjet Station manager at CWL. I have now looked at Easyjet website no mention whatsoever of CWL, I think all these rumours are a complete hoax in my opinion, but it would be great if Easyjet did something from CWL

 

[Em0866]

Yes this so called ad has been shared on Facebook. There's an ad for the same job at CWL on the same website for BA too. Common sense tells me that both these jobs are a hoax in my opinion. It's very unlikely both airlines will be basing any aircraft at CWL in any capacity. EZY aren't going to start any services any time soon from CWL and BA will stay at LHR and LGW.

 

[Samdorob]

Yes this so called ad has been shared on Facebook. There's an ad for the same job at CWL on the same website for BA too. Common sense tells me that both these jobs are a hoax in my opinion in my opinion. It's very unlikely both airlines will be basing any aircraft at CWL in any capacity. EZY aren't going to start any services any time soon from CWL and BA will stay at LHR and LGW.

I’d say BA are even less likely to start services from there.

 

[Jerry]

Days like this must be incredibly frustrating for airport teams at airports like Cardiff. Seeing all these new routes being launched by an airline like Easyjet and you're never on the list

https://twitter.com/x/status/1934859760672649669

 

[bluebols]

Munich from Bristol , how excellent, a couple of football weekends coming up next season.

 

[Jerry]

"His comments followed a letter from Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans MS, who confirmed that it is the airport’s executive team—not Welsh ministers—currently handling negotiations with the airline"
Personally without government help I don't see the route coming back and tbh I'm not sure it should be a priority for the route development team.

Cardiff Airport 'withering on the vine' as ministers step back from Qatar Airways talks - Herald.Wales

Calls grow for Welsh Government to step up efforts to restore key international route CARDIFF AIRPORT has become the only UK hub where Qatar Airways

herald.wales

In my opinion KLM and Air France should be the priority for international connectivity via Amsterdam and Paris CDG.

3rd daily AMS, daily Edinburgh on an ATR 72, Paris, Barcelona, route to Italy, Munich should all be more of a priority than Doha imo. As an avgeek its nice to see widebody routes but connectivity wise western Europe should be more of a priority imho.

 

[Jerry]

The article @geoff referenced
"The airport has highlighted multiple unserved route opportunities on its Routes 360 profile, creating new possibilities for airlines looking to capitalize on Wales' growing aviation market.

Unserved:
Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Dubai Internatioanl (DXB)
Doha Hamad International (DOH)
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Barcelona El-Prat Airport (BCN)
Glasgow Airport (GLA)
New York (JFK)
Greater Toronto Airports Authority (YYZ)
Newcastle International Airport (NCL)
Cork Airport (ORK)
Jersey Airport (JER)

Underserved:
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
Faro Airport (FAO)
Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI)
Malaga Airport (AGP)"

Cardiff Airport Plans To Cement Position As A Gateway To A Thriving Capital | Aviation Week

Our Route Opportunities feature explores the latest unserved and underserved routes promoted through Routes 360, providing supporting information for airline network planners to consider and capitalize on.

aviationweek.com

Surprised an Italian route isn't on the list tbh.

I know route development teams are supposed to be optimistic but I just don't see many of those unserved routes as realistic at the moment Paris and Barcelona and maybe Cork but Istanbul?

So i've added potential airlines next to the routes that i think the airport would look to engage with for these routes
Unserved:
Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)/Air France, Easyjet and Vueling (not sure if they have a base)
Dubai Internatioanl (DXB)/ Emirates
Doha Hamad International (DOH)/ Qatar Airways
Istanbul Airport (IST)/ Turkish Airlines
Barcelona El-Prat Airport (BCN)/Ryanair and Vueling
Glasgow Airport (GLA)/Loganair and Easyjet
New York (JFK)/Delta and JetBlue
Greater Toronto Airports Authority (YYZ)/Air Canada, Westjet and Air Transat
Newcastle International Airport (NCL)/Loganair and Easyjet
Cork Airport (ORK)/Ryanair and Aer Lingus
Jersey Airport (JER)/Blue Islands

Underserved:
Dublin Airport (DUB)/Ryanair and Aer Lingus
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)/Loganair and Easyjet
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)/KLM
Faro Airport (FAO)/TUI and Ryanair
Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI)/Ryanair and Vueling
Malaga Airport (AGP)/Ryanair and Vueling

 

[Samdorob]

I just don't see many of those unserved routes as realistic at the moment Paris and Barcelona and maybe Cork but Istanbul?

From memory there’s been quite a bit of expansion out of Turkey so they may hope to get in on that action. Would be great for connections east if it did materialise.

 

[geoff]

The route development team at CWL have done very well over the past few months, and hopefully with a rise in routes from Ryanair and Vueling, will do even better in the near future.

 

[Jerry]

From memory there’s been quite a bit of expansion out of Turkey so they may hope to get in on that action. Would be great for connections east if it did materialise.

Interesting though that Antalya and Dalaman aren't on the underserved list.
Turkish would be a very good replacement for Qatar Airways but without government support I can't see a route like Istanbul working.

The route development team at CWL have done very well over the past few months, and hopefully with a rise in routes from Ryanair and Vueling, will do even better in the near future.

Yes they have with TUI and Ryanair especially.

 

[Em0866]

Interesting though that Antalya and Dalaman aren't on the underserved list.
Turkish would be a very good replacement for Qatar Airways but without government support I can't see a route like Istanbul working.


Yes they have with TUI and Ryanair especially.

I disagree with you Gerry, as Turkish have plenty of single aisle aircraft of various sizes from 737s and A320s to 777s and A350! Istanbul is a huge hub airport for onward connections to Africa, Asia and Australia. Easier to fill a single aisles aircraft than a larger aircraft. People will use it especially for onward connections worldwide. If then it does become more popular then add a second single aisle aircraft on the route or upgrade to a larger aircraft. Less of a gamble than the aircraft Emirates, Qatar and Etihad have which are mostly wide bodied.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

I disagree with you Gerry, as Turkish have plenty of single aisle aircraft of various sizes from 737s and A320s to 777s and A350! Istanbul is a huge hub airport for onward connections to Africa, Asia and Australia. Easier to fill a single aisles aircraft than a larger aircraft. People will use it especially for onward connections worldwide. If then it does become more popular then add a second single aisle aircraft on the route or upgrade to a larger aircraft. Less of a gamble than the aircraft Emirates, Qatar and Etihad have which are mostly wide bodied.

While this is true, it also opens up the option of BRS being used with an aircraft suitable for the airfield. CWL's selling point is the ability to handle larger aircraft and cargo.
There are already regular flights to Istanbul from BRS which will no doubt peak TK's interest.

 

[Jerry]

I disagree with you Gerry, as Turkish have plenty of single aisle aircraft of various sizes from 737s and A320s to 777s and A350! Istanbul is a huge hub airport for onward connections to Africa, Asia and Australia. Easier to fill a single aisles aircraft than a larger aircraft. People will use it especially for onward connections worldwide. If then it does become more popular then add a second single aisle aircraft on the route or upgrade to a larger aircraft. Less of a gamble than the aircraft Emirates, Qatar and Etihad have which are mostly wide bodied.

Yes they do which also means Bristol is possible for them but they also have 8 daily flights from Heathrow mostly on widebodies to fill. I personally think there needs to be a bit of realism route wise for Cardiff. Its a sub 1 million passenger airport at the moment any route like Istanbul, Dubai or Doha isn't realistically going to happen without significant government support and lobbying from that same government and if this is accurate
""His comments followed a letter from Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans MS, who confirmed that it is the airport’s executive team—not Welsh ministers—currently handling negotiations with the airline"
It could suggest that government isn't being active in talking to airlines like the way they did with Qatar Airways. Without that support Cardiff just isn't able to compete with airports like Newcastle, Bristol, Glasgow and LeedsBradford who'll all be lobbying Turkish Airlines to be their new UK destination.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

Yes they do which also means Bristol is possible for them but they also have 8 daily flights from Heathrow mostly on widebodies to fill. I personally think there needs to be a bit of realism route wise for Cardiff. Its a sub 1 million passenger airport at the moment any route like Istanbul, Dubai or Doha isn't realistically going to happen without significant government support and lobbying from that same government and if this is accurate
""His comments followed a letter from Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans MS, who confirmed that it is the airport’s executive team—not Welsh ministers—currently handling negotiations with the airline"
It could suggest that government isn't being active in talking to airlines like the way they did with Qatar Airways. Without that support Cardiff just isn't able to compete with airports like Newcastle, Bristol, Glasgow and LeedsBradford who'll all be lobbying Turkish Airlines to be their new UK destination.

I don't believe the WG were in discussions with Qatar Airways. I got the impression it was a joint venture between CWL and QR, and WG & the Qatari Government over promoting Wales, separate to the Aviation deal. It just appeared on the surface that it was a joint venture with Qatar Airways.
I'm not sure if it was in that article or I read it elsewhere but it was noted that over £1m was part of the deal as a marketing campaign. There's no reason why CWL aren't handling those same negotiations. Let's not forget that the WG are the owners who have recently given CWL a large investment. It's ultimately down to CWL what they do with that money (under scrutiny), so maybe the WG have just taken a step back to let CWL get on with it.