Cardiff: Infrastructure & Construction Updates

[Jerry]

Airbridge 9 is getting replaced with the same type of airbridge as this can be used by KLM and then potentially Flybe when KLM are not in. I was initially told this is to take place next winter however there have been rumours this week that they may bring this forward.

So the other airbridge from Gatwick will go on stand 9 then? That's good news!

 

[Jerry]

A few photos of the departures area this morning! Revamp looks good!
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[Jerry]

The new airbridge on stand 7.
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[Jerry]

Apparently the new airbridge is now operational with Vueling using it the other day.

 

[Jerry]

Another photo of the airbridge this time from airside.
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The other airbridge is still in Long Stay 3 but it does look like there is work being done on it inside the airbridge.
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View attachment 8159Also the Car Hire centre is up and running
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And a few shots of the advertisement at the baggage belt in Domestic Arrivals
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[CWL94]

Does any one know if there is work being carried out on Stands 1 and 3 today?

I have noticed that all BE flights today, which would generally use these stands for domestic arrivals and also convenience have only been using Stands 10, 11 and 12 throughout the day!

 

[Jerry]

Does any one know if there is work being carried out on Stands 1 and 3 today?

Could be then they are reconfiguring them but i don't know for sure.

 

[Jerry]

Does any one know if there is work being carried out on Stands 1 and 3 today?

I have noticed that all BE flights today, which would generally use these stands for domestic arrivals and also convenience have only been using Stands 10, 11 and 12 throughout the day!

I asked on another site and they are reconfiguring and remarking the stand layout for the new airbridge.

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

Stands are out of use for the next few days due to the new Stand layout which includes additional stands.

 

[CWL94]

Stands are out of use for the next few days due to the new Stand layout which includes additional stands.

Do you know what the new layout will look like? I read that the air bridge will technically be on/near stand 3 taking that out of action when QR are on stand, although creating another stand 7L/8? to allow TUI for example to use that when QR is on 3/7R?

Only thing I am unsure of with this layout, is if QR and TUI are parked and are near boarding the same time, how would that work as Gate 7/8 use the same doors?

 

[Cardiffbay]

Do you know what the new layout will look like? I read that the air bridge will technically be on/near stand 3 taking that out of action when QR are on stand, although creating another stand 7L/8? to allow TUI for example to use that when QR is on 3/7R?

Only thing I am unsure of with this layout, is if QR and TUI are parked and are near boarding the same time, how would that work as Gate 7/8 use the same doors?

Back a few weeks ago there was a post showing the layout. It looked like the airbridge will be able to move to two stands allowing the current stand set up to be used or changing it when a widebody is on the bridge

 

[Jerry]

View attachment 8387

Do you know what the new layout will look like? I read that the air bridge will technically be on/near stand 3 taking that out of action when QR are on stand, although creating another stand 7L/8? to allow TUI for example to use that when QR is on 3/7R?

Only thing I am unsure of with this layout, is if QR and TUI are parked and are near boarding the same time, how would that work as Gate 7/8 use the same doors?

Hopefully above is what the layout will be from what i was shown on social media a few week's back.
Wide bodies would use stand 7L and while in operation only stand 1 can be used.
Also the airbridge can be used for stand 3, stand 7 and 7L i believe.

 

[StanMan]

There is a NOTAM here (or link below) which shows the repositioning of the stands. Stand 7 is reconfigured for airbridge use for code D and E aircraft and new stand 7L for code C. New stand 8R is for code C with airbridge.
http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/aip/EG_SUP_2018_016_en.pdf

 

[Jerry]

There is a NOTAM here (or link below) which shows the repositioning of the stands. Stand 7 is reconfigured for airbridge use for code D and E aircraft and new stand 7L for code C. New stand 8R is for code C with airbridge.
http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/aip/EG_SUP_2018_016_en.pdf

Thanks for that and welcome to Forums4Airports.
Looking at the image in their it looks like stands 1 2 and 3 won't change.
I don't know what the codes are but I'm assuming that means 7L and 8R will be able to take aircraft up A330 200s and 300s, 787 8s and 9s and A350 900s and 1000s? And the new stand 7 will be able to take aircraft up to A321s and 757s?

 

[Jerry]

Thanks for that and welcome to Forums4Airports.
Looking at the image in their it looks like stands 1 2 and 3 won't change.
I don't know what the codes are but I'm assuming that means 7L and 8R will be able to take aircraft up A330 200s and 300s, 787 8s and 9s and A350 900s and 1000s? And the new stand 7 will be able to take aircraft up to A321s and 757s?

Just had a look online and it appears i got that wrong. Stand 7L and 8R can take up to 737 A320 sizes and stand 7 up to 777.

 

[StanMan]

The codes are an ICAO parking stand coding that is based on aircraft wingspan and landing gear span. There doesn't appear to be a single definitive guide showing all aircraft types but code C is typically A320 / A321 / B737; code D is typically A300 / A310 / B757 / B767; and code E is A340 / A350 / B747 (other than -8 series) / B777 / B787.
A380 and B747-8 are code F.

 

[Severn]

As StanMan has said, the ICAO parking stand coding is based upon wingspan and landing gear span.

Stands 7L and 8R are coded:
Code C - wingspan of 24m up to but not including 36m
(all 737 and 737MAX types, all MD80 types, A318 to A321, all Embraer E-Jets)

Stand 7 is coded:
Code D - wingspan of 36m up to but not including 52m
(A300s, A310s, all 757s and 767 types)
Code E - wingspan of 52m up to but not including 65m
(All 777 types, all 787 types, 747-100 to -400, all A330, A340 and A350 types)

One thing to take into account is that each gate also has a set length therefore even though stand 7 is classed as a Code D/E gate, its length limit might not be able to take anything longer than 787-8/A330-200 without obstructing the taxiiway begind.
For example a 65m wide gate (Code E) which has a limit of 61m length due to a taxiway behind length cannot take a 777 without obstructing the taxiway behind.

 

[Jerry]

Thank you both for the info!

 

[Jerry]

Just had a thought. The inaugural flight is with an A350 900 so length wise stand 7 must be able to accommodate that can't see them using stand 6 for that flight!

 

[StanMan]

Stand 7 should be fine for the QR service, irrespective of whether they use B787 or A350.

As Severn noted, there may be an issue with access to stands 1,2 and 3 whilst 7 is in use with an A350 / B787 - the dimensions on the NOTAM diagram aren't clear, but it looks to me as though stands 1 and 2 would be useable when 7 is also in use with A350 / B787...although for the first flight, there's likely to be a media scrum spilling onto the apron which may change that!