Cardiff: Route Development & Rumours

[Jerry]

I know its Wales Online but it sadly does give an edge of negativity for the airport despite the positives from Ryanair and TUI but the positives do seem to be coming from the leisure side of the airports route network and not the connectivity side which I'd imagine would concern the Welsh government.
Route wise what do people think we could see over the next few years? I hope Edinburgh, Paris and Barcelona will return along with maybe Malta and something like Verona. Also depending on how Salzburg does I wonder if we could see Geneva as a ski route and maybe even something like Turin.
As they seem to be expanding I wonder if we could see an a LCC airline to Turkey ie Dalaman and Antalya rather than Istanbul and is long haul to the Middle East a realistic goal anymore?

Cardiff Airport route to Scotland axed

A leading airline has scrapped the only direct flight between Cardiff and another UK capital

www.walesonline.co.uk

Good to see Cardiff Airport stand get a brief appearance in this video!

#routesworld | Routes

With our final day of the event in full swing, relive the highlights from yesterday at #RoutesWorld here in Hong Kong, featuring the Routes Awards! Moments captured sponsored by the Cayman Islands, official event videography sponsor. World-renowned for dining, diving and its warm Caymankind...

www.linkedin.com

 

[Samdorob]

Route wise what do people think we could see over the next few years?

Edinburgh and Paris are big ones for me. I think the demand is there, it just needs to be with a reliable reasonably priced airline and have good times. Unfortunately Loganair was priced too high for the local market and Eastern were terribly unreliable.

When I last checked the ORY route at Southampton looks to be doing well since EasyJet took it over. It’s a bigger aircraft, but less frequency yet the numbers are far higher than when Eastern ran it.

 

[Jerry]

When I last checked the ORY route at Southampton looks to be doing well since EasyJet took it over. It’s a bigger aircraft, but less frequency yet the numbers are far higher than when Eastern ran it.

Unfortunately Easyjet isn't an option for the airport. They'd be perfect for both Edinburgh and Paris but there's probably more chance of seeing an Emirates A380 at Cardiff than Easyjet sadly

 

[Jerry]

I was shown this comment on LinkedIn by another enthusiast and this part is interesting as its from the Finance Director and Company Secretary and it's about the Hong Kong event
"The event has been a big success in terms of building on existing relationships and developing new and potential exciting partnerships."
Sounds like the event was positive for the airport and the team.
In one of the replies the team is congratulated as well so hopefully fingers crossed we'll see something positive happen in the future.

#teamwales | Jon Leaman

Fantastic effort of the Cardiff Airport and Visit Wales team. Start of a new era for #TeamWales. Immensely proud of the marketing and business development teams at the airport in putting the whole scheme and plans into action. The event has been a big success in terms of building on existing...

www.linkedin.com

 

[Jerry]

I think this is a shame I know its happening at what would be short notice for a new route but a 6 weekly flight to Dubai would be fantastic for an airport like Cardiff but also it shows the challenge small airports face. Far easier to add an extra daily flight from Heathrow.
I do wonder if we'll ever see scheduled long haul from Cardiff again.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1973340869337211146

 

[Jerry]

Interesting reply to one of SeanM1997 posts concerning Cardiff and a long haul route.
View attachment 32869

 

[Tinkerman]

Seems like it’s scheduled long haul.

 

[MrFenner]

I wonder if we will finally see the return of QR?

🤭

 

[Tinkerman]

Anna.Aero is a pretty reliable source by all accounts. Saying that contracts have been signed.

 

[Jerry]

I wonder if we will finally see the return of QR?

🤭

Or could be something different! Hopefully we'll find out soon but if it happens will be a good boost and pr for the airport.

 

[Tinkerman]

Cardiff does need a bit of a boost, there have been some good news stories for 2026 already but getting some form of long haul connectivity back would be ideal. Given the reductions/issues with KLM, quite a good time to develop/rekindle a hub connection.

My bet is either QR or some other form of XLR operation going east or west (Although that covers a lot of options!)

 

[Jerry]

My bet is either QR or some other form of XLR operation going east or west (Although that covers a lot of options!)

Can't see who it would be going East if not Qatar Airways. Westbound I wonder if Canada would be a more potential option than the USA. Be shocked if any of the US carriers would look at Cardiff and Wales.

 

[Samdorob]

Can't see who it would be going East if not Qatar Airways. Westbound I wonder if Canada would be a more potential option than the USA. Be shocked if any of the US carriers would look at Cardiff and Wales.

When I think back before the pandemic, QR were doing alright and steadily growing. I don’t think it would be the US as I don’t think demand is growing there. Maybe Canada, but is there enough demand from a regional airport?

If I was putting money on it, I’d say Qatar, mostly as they’ve done it once before.

 

[Jerry]

Maybe Canada, but is there enough demand from a regional airport?

Well I'd expect that any North American airline would be looking at Cardiff and Wales more as a destination for their customers with UK passengers a bonus.

 

[geoff]

It would be a real boost for CWL, if the rumours are correct.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

I wonder with a decline of travel to the US recently if Canada is becoming a more attractive prospect.
Demand to Canada has dropped over the past 10-15 years and there's much less regional flying UK-CA.
Any long haul route from CWL is going to be really up against it so whatever it is i hope CWL and WG have pulled out all the stops to promote Wales and the Southwest as a whole.

 

[Jerry]

I wonder with a decline of travel to the US recently if Canada is becoming a more attractive prospect

Well according to the CAA passenger numbers to Canada from the UK via direct routes grew by 8% in July. There's also the factor that less Canadians are travelling to the US as well so Canadian airlines may well be looking for other destinations.
IF it is Canada I can't see it being a widebody. Both Air Canada and WestJet use 737 8s on long haul routes from Canada.

 

[Samdorob]

There's also the factor that less Canadians are travelling to the US as well so Canadian airlines may well be looking for other destinations.

I was looking into this to see if there are any clues online. Unfortunately I didn’t find anything concrete, but I did find a landing page advertising “wales as a destination” on Air Canada Vacations. I guess there’s a chance we might see them set up a route.

 

[Jerry]

I was looking into this to see if there are any clues online. Unfortunately I didn’t find anything concrete, but I did find a landing page advertising “wales as a destination” on Air Canada Vacations. I guess there’s a chance we might see them set up a route.

Could be possible. A Star Alliance member would be a good coup especially one with a big hub at Toronto. I would expect any sort of route like that to be seasonal. June to October.

 

[Tinkerman]

Either way, positive news sounds like it’s on the immediate horizon in the coming days/weeks. If SeanM has it on X, chances are the slots have already been filed as he seems to get OAG reports (which is where the vast majority of his news appears to come from, and his sources).

Keeps us all guessing for now anyhow.