Cardiff Airport Masterplan

[Jerry]

I found this link to the Masterplan brochure.
https://www.cardiff-airport.com/uploads/Masterplan brochure.pdf

 

[Jerry]

I was able to take some screenshots of the plans in the brochure.
View attachment 9285 View attachment 9286 View attachment 9287

 

[Jerry]

Cardiff and Vale College have confirmed plans for a new multi-million pound campus. While the college is assessing several sites in the Vale of Glamorgan it is believed that Cardiff Airport is one of them and this would fit in with the Masterplan recently released with part of the site marked down for an airport campus that includes an education facility and the college already has a presence onsite with it's International Centre for Aerospace Training facility. Also i'd say that the case for a dedicated railway station and a dedicated line would be stronger with a University/College campus like this onsite or planning to be.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/busin...y/cardiff-vale-college-confirm-plans-15010945

 

[Jerry]

Cardiff Airport will hold Public Enagagement Events about it's Masterplan on the 6th September at the Cardiff Story Museum just by The Hayes in Cardiff City Centre and on the 7th September at Barry Library.
https://www.facebook.com/events/269909186981194/
https://www.facebook.com/events/703646399984306/

 

[Aviador]

I found this link to the Masterplan brochure.
https://www.cardiff-airport.com/uploads/Masterplan brochure.pdf

I'm lovin' the new terminal shown in the masterplan.

 

[Jerry]

I'm lovin' the new terminal shown in the masterplan.

Yeah it'll great to see a new terminal as Cardiff does need one!

 

[Jerry]

Today there was 2 787s on the ground but due to contact stand 1 had to wait on the taxiway for an hour i believe for the other to come off stand 7.
Although a one off, maybe today shows that a new terminal with multiple contact stands that can handle widebody aircraft is long overdue.

 

[Severn]

Today there was 2 787s on the ground but due to contact stand 1 had to wait on the taxiway for an hour i believe for the other to come off stand 7.
Although a one off, maybe today shows that a new terminal with multiple contact stands that can handle widebody aircraft is long overdue.

Which aircraft was waiting for an hour Jerry? Qatar or TUI?
Was one of the aircraft much earlier/later than originally planned?
If not, (and assuming no other factors meant the second 787 couldn't park elsewhere), then doesn't this just boil down to poor planning from the airport and handlers who would be aware that both these aircraft required the same stand?

 

[Severn]

I see that the TUI 787 was due to depart to Bridgetown at 11:45 and the Qatar 787 was due to arrive at 11:55.
In fact the TUI 787 didn't depart until 12:30 and the Qatar 787 arrived early at 11:30.

Clearly the airport would have been aware that this leaves very little room for error and given the Qatar flight regularly arrives early (and a departure rarely departs early) still shows a lack of planning maybe?

Does this mean the 787 can only be handled on one stand only? Or because they both wanted to use Stand 7 which has a jet-bridge?

 

[Jerry]

Does this mean the 787 can only be handled on one stand only? Or because they both wanted to use Stand 7 which has a jet-bridge?

There are 2 stands for widebodies stand 6 and stand 7. 6 requires busses as it's remote and 7 is a contact stand with an airbridge. Makes you wonder why with the potential clash they didn't put TUI on stand 6 and leave 7 for Qatar but then TUI may not be happy with that!

 

[Jerry]

Cardiff Airport gives reassurances over runway extension, saying that it's only in the Masterplan as a just in case and not likely to happen.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales...GISPlp5lnqP4Olzbc-Dab9smQd7G8qNYK8-mrPKwtNKRw

 

[TheLocalYokel]

A spokeswoman for environmental group Vale Communities For Future Generations said: "If the runway is extended it would change the whole way in which the airport operates.

"It would be bringing in different types of aircraft at a different height than currently.

Don't commercial aircraft all approach at the same angle once established on the localiser? So how could they be at a different height? Same applies broadly for take-offs doesn't it?

I think the CWL runway is just under 2,400 metres in length. A few years ago BHX extended their 2,600 metre runway to 3,000 metres in an attempt (I believe) to be able to operate all types of aircraft anywhere without load penalty. I have read some people question the wisdom of the extension given BHX's current disappointing (by their standards) long haul programme.

I would be interested in the views of any BHX follower who might read this thread.

 

[Coathanger16]

Don't commercial aircraft all approach at the same angle once established on the localiser? So how could they be at a different height? Same applies broadly for take-offs doesn't it?

With any runway extension it all depends on where the landing threshold is. If the entirety of the runway extension is used as a 'starter strip' (i.e. to give aircraft taking off more runway length) then the touchdown point and therefore height of aircraft on approach will be the same.

If however there is no 'displaced threshold' then the touchdown point will be moved towards the extended end and therefore landing aircraft will be lower.

Before BHX extended their runway they had a small starter strip on RWY 33. When the runway was extended towards the South, the entirety of the extension was used as a starter strip, and so the touchdown point moved South, and aircraft became slightly lower as a result.

I think the CWL runway is just under 2,400 metres in length. A few years ago BHX extended their 2,600 metre runway to 3,000 metres in an attempt (I believe) to be able to operate all types of aircraft anywhere without load penalty. I have read some people question the wisdom of the extension given BHX's current disappointing (by their standards) long haul programme.

I would be interested in the views of any BHX follower who might read this thread.

As it currently stands, the only airlines that make regular use of the runway extension is Emirates with the A380 and TUI with their Far East Asia destinations. Without the runway extension, I doubt Emirates would have been able to operate a fully loaded A380, and we wouldn't have the likes of Phuket, Langkawi, etc served.

In terms of cost benefit was it worth it? That's for the BHX finance team to say.

If BHX hadn't extended the runway where would we be? Possibly during the quieter months we'd manage 1 or 2 daily A380's, but in the busier months when these aircraft are full, the unextended runway would probably have been too short, so we'd probably have 3x daily B777. Then it comes down to would you prefer less but bigger aircraft, or more but smaller?

As for TUI, without the runway extension, and hence not serving Far East Asia, perhaps they would have used the aircraft on more, dare I say it, Orlando flights. Then again they may have simply redeployed them to other airports.

So was it worth it? Without the A380 I'd likely say no it wasn't. With the A380, I'm stuck somewhere in the middle. Once/if BHX gets another Far East Asia destination (Hong Kong, Beijing, etc) then its value would increase and I'd say it was worth it.

Looking at the results of BHX's runway extension, I'd say there's no need for Cardiff to extend theirs. The Qatar flights operate fine, and any future long haul routes will likely only be East Coast USA/Canda which would be able to operate fine from the current runway.

 

[Jerry]

Cardiff doesn't need a runway extension because as stated the most likeliest long haul routes are going to be to the US East Coast and not the Far East. Cardiffs priority has to be a new terminal building asap.

 

[Jerry]

The Masterplan consultation is now over and the finished Masterplan will be published later, i think it was April originally when it was due to be published.

 

[Jerry]

Part of the Masterplan of the airport is for the Enterprise zone around the airport to be developed.
RPS on behalf of Legal and general is preparing an outline planning application to build a new business park on port road adjacent to Cardiff airport which will include offices, industrial units, space for logistics, warehousing and distribution. It's to be built in the area marked yellow. View attachment 13395

 

[Jerry]

Wales online have done an article about the proposed business park.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/...j6tSYrDEsQd-oQPcjSiUILvdZgu9ukza3RFITMSXN_0BY

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Wales online have done an article about the proposed business park.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/...j6tSYrDEsQd-oQPcjSiUILvdZgu9ukza3RFITMSXN_0BY

Looks impressive - should help with cargo at CWL especially with a new cargo terminal being considered in the master plan.

 

[Jerry]

Looks impressive - should help with cargo at CWL especially with a new cargo terminal being considered in the master plan.

Yes having a business park next door hopefully with a big company that operates an airfreight division would be a good boost for the airports cargo side. Also I think it would strengthen the case for a direct road to the M4 as well.

 

[Jerry]

View attachment 15008

The above screenshot states Cardiff airports aspirations from the Masterplan 2040 but are those aspirations now in tatters with the loss of Thomas Cook and the Flybe base?
With probable loss of over 200,000 passengers a year and 4 based aircraft is the likelihood of a new terminal set out in the Masterplan just a fantasy now?
How will a business that isn't growing and has a lesser chance of attracting airlines now going to attract the investment needed to build a new terminal or should the Welsh government put up the money for a scaled down version?