Cardiff Airport – News

Recent news about Cardiff airport:

 


Even with government money, Cardiff airport continues to make a loss

Cardiff Airport is continuing to make a loss as it struggles to attract passengers back to pre-pandemic levels.  It lost £4.5m in the year to March 2023 according to company accounts, after receiving a government grant of £5.3m. The company, which is owned by the Welsh government, is hoping to make more use of its land to raise money.Welsh government ministers are currently supporting the airport through a grant worth £42.6m over four years. Over the years it has received millions in government loans. In 2021 Labour ministers wrote off a £42.6m loan they had given the airport, leaving it to repay £26.3m by 2045. The number of  passengers using the airport in the year up to March 2023 was only 58% of the number using it before Covid.

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Anglesey to Cardiff PSO route scrapped by Welsh government – with the money going to public transport

The Welsh Government has scrapped its North to South Wales funded, PSO funded, air service, between Anglesey and Cardiff, saying it will instead use the annual £2.9m public subsidy to improve integrated public transport. The route had been suspended since March 2020 and will not be re-started. The Welsh Government said pre-Covid some 77% of people using route did so for work, but that a shift to hybrid and home-working has cut demand. There is far less demand for business flying.  Instead the money saved from running the service will be used to improve public transport in north Wales. This will benefit more people and help reach the Welsh net zero target by 2050. The decision follows an independent study commissioned by the Welsh Government into the carbon impact of the service on the environment. It said this shows the service had a more negative impact on the environment than any other form of travel between Anglesey and Cardiff. Often travel by rail was actually faster, door to door, than by plane.

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‘A total waste of Welsh taxpayers money’ What people really think about Cardiff Airport

Cardiff airport was bought by Welsh Government for £52m in 2013.
In March 2021, the airport was given another £42m of taxpayers’ cash, while another £42.6m it owed in debt to the Welsh Government was being written off.
It was valued at around £15m in 2021.  It continues making huge losses
 

Welsh Assembly Member questions £21m Cardiff Airport loan from taxpayer – on top of an earlier £38m loan, not yet repaid

Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay has criticised the Welsh Government for its ‘blank cheque’ approach to funding for Cardiff Airport. Mr Ramsay said: “The Welsh Government has committed to this new loan without providing any detail on what the money is for or when it will be paid back. This comes on top of a previous loan of £38 million in 2015 which has also yet to be paid back. Transport minister Ken Skates said the funding – in the form of a loan the airport will pay back – would support “ambitious plans for the future” including a target of two million passengers a year.  Mr Ramsay questioned the fairness of the loan, saying: “Businesses in my constituency do not receive this level of support from the Welsh Government and will understandably be questioning the fairness of these funding priorities.  We need far more clarity on what this money is being provided for and when we will see an end to what effectively amounts to a “blank cheque” for the Airport. … the public have the right to expect a coherent and rigid timetable for this money to be recovered.” But following the transport minister’s announcement, the Welsh Conservatives said Cardiff Airport would do better if it were re-privatised, where it would not need Welsh taxpayers to shoulder the financial burden. 

https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/2019/10/welsh-assembly-member-questions-21m-cardiff-airport-loan-from-taxpayer-on-top-of-an-earlier-38m-loan-not-yet-repaid/

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Welsh Assembly members say Cardiff airport lacks a long-term enough plan for expansion

The Welsh Public Accounts Committee has said Cardiff Airport is missing its passenger targets and lacks a long-term plan to expand. The airport was bought by the Welsh Government for £52 million in 2013. The decision to buy and the price paid caused controversy, but the Public Accounts Committee said ministers had had “a clear rationale” for going ahead with the deal. The transport minister said swift action saved the airport from closure. After the airport was taken into public ownership, passenger numbers rose from 995,000 to 1.079m in 2013-14, but in 2014-15 the numbers declined to 1.005m. The airport now expects numbers to rise to 1.4m by 2017-18, although the business plan produced at the time it was bought projected passenger figures of around 2 million by that date. Some consider the airport was only worth £20 – £30 million and the Welsh government paid too much. Flybe announced it would operate flights between Cardiff and London City Airport during the six week closure of the Severn rail tunnel from 12 September to 21 October. “Aviation Wales” hopes Air Passenger Duty will be devolved, so they can cut it. Bristol airport is very anxious about this, and launched a “A Fair Flight for the South West” campaign, fearing a loss of passengers to Cardiff.

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Cardiff Airport boss dismisses plans to extend runway

18 FEB 2019

An environmental group has expressed concerns about the possibility of aircraft flying 100ft lower over Bridgend, Llanblethian and Cowbridge. Plans to extend Cardiff Airport’s runway are not on the horizon despite being in its 20-year masterplan, the airport’s boss has said.

A possible extension to the Rhoose airport’s runway has been included in its 2040 vision – which also includes a new terminal building and four star hotel.

But Deb Barber, chief executive of the airport, said there are no immediate plans to extend the runway following concerns raised by an environmental group.

Vale Communities For Future Generations has expressed concerns about noise and air pollution should the runway be extended, and the possibility of aircraft flying 100ft lower over Bridgend, Llanblethian and Cowbridge

But Ms Barber told Cardiff Airport Consultative Committee on February 13 she does not foresee the runway extension being needed, and any changes to aircraft would have to be approved with the Civil Aviation Authority.  She said: “There are no immediate plans at all to extend the runway. We do not envisage that happening unless there’s a massive change in the way airlines operate.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardiff-airport-boss-dismisses-plans-15846658


Swansea and Cardiff want long-haul flights, but they would be unlikely if there was a 3rd Heathrow runway

Swansea airport hopes it could benefit from an air link to a Chinese city.  It hopes to be able to boost the airport, and possibly provide business benefits locally. Swansea and Pembrey have been earmarked as potential locations for Chinese business development, with the aim of cutting travel times to key cities.  However, a leading transport expert cast doubts over Swansea’s suitability as a regional airport, especially if Cardiff nearby – the main regional airport – has a link to Qatar.  If there was a 3rd Heathrow runway, the chance of long haul flights to countries like China, from regional airports, would be diminished – even DfT data indicate that, as Heathrow would focus the most profitable routes. The leader of Swansea council, Rob Stewart said: “Cardiff Airport is still our national airport but we need regional airports to support that ….We want to be able to service the business people to London and the Northern Powerhouse.  With the links we have with China and Cardiff Airport with the Middle East [Qatar Airways], I think there’s potential for investment into a regional airport.  Air links were one of the things discussed during one of the recent visits to China.”

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Government decides not to devolve APD to Wales

The UK government has confirmed that there would be no devolution of APD to Wales. APD has been fully devolved to Scotland, and SNP has the intention of halving it and eventually scrapping it. Some in the Welsh Assembly wanted devolution of APD to Wales, so it could be cut – in the vain hope that would boost the profitability of struggling Cardiff airport. Airports in England, and Bristol in particular, were deeply opposed to APD in Wales being cut, in case that encouraged people to use Cardiff airport rather than Bristol. The local Bristol MP said that would cause unfair competition between airports. The impact of abolishing APD would only be at most £13 per return flight for anywhere in Europe, (£26 for a return flight within the UK) – with no difference for a child under 16, so hardly worth the trip all way over to Cardiff. In a Commons debate on the Wales Bill, parliamentary under secretary of state for Wales, Conservative MP Guto Bebb, said: “Air Passenger Duty has been raised during the debate, and the fact that we are not proposing to devolve it has been criticised, although I think that that is right and proper.” The loss of income from the removal of APD would in all likelihood be larger than any benefit from more inbound tourism etc, causing a net loss to the Welsh economy.

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Welsh Assembly members say Cardiff airport lacks a long-term enough plan for expansion

The Welsh Public Accounts Committee has said Cardiff Airport is missing its passenger targets and lacks a long-term plan to expand. The airport was bought by the Welsh Government for £52 million in 2013. The decision to buy and the price paid caused controversy, but the Public Accounts Committee said ministers had had “a clear rationale” for going ahead with the deal. The transport minister said swift action saved the airport from closure. After the airport was taken into public ownership, passenger numbers rose from 995,000 to 1.079m in 2013-14, but in 2014-15 the numbers declined to 1.005m. The airport now expects numbers to rise to 1.4m by 2017-18, although the business plan produced at the time it was bought projected passenger figures of around 2 million by that date. Some consider the airport was only worth £20 – £30 million and the Welsh government paid too much. Flybe announced it would operate flights between Cardiff and London City Airport during the six week closure of the Severn rail tunnel from 12 September to 21 October. “Aviation Wales” hopes Air Passenger Duty will be devolved, so they can cut it. Bristol airport is very anxious about this, and launched a “A Fair Flight for the South West” campaign, fearing a loss of passengers to Cardiff.

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The airline that provides the only internal flights in Wales from Cardiff to Anglesey has lost its safety licence

21 OCT 2015 (Wales Online)

The Civil Aviation Authority said that it had revoked LinksAir’s safety certificate to ‘protect the public’. The airline which provides flights between Cardiff Airport and Anglesey has lost its safety licence. Economy Minister Edwina Hart told Assembly Members another airline is already in place to run the services. A CAA spokesperson said: “The UK Civil Aviation Authority has suspended the safety certificate for UK airline Linksair. Economy Minister Edwina Hart said: “These are matters for the CAA … There is another provider in place to carry on with the route.”

LinksAir took over the service from their previous partnership with operator Citywing in 2014 when they renewed the contract to offer two return flights each weekday for the following four years. Welsh Conservative Leader, Andrew RT Davies AM, said: “Labour ministers must clarify the situation surrounding LinksAir immediately.  “The company’s contract was renewed just last year – at significant cost to the taxpayer. Now it appears the entire deal is up in the air. Communities deserve to know if the route is continuing to operate within the current framework or if additional money is being used.” LinksAir also provided flights from Anglesey to Norwich, via Cardiff Airport, but the route was scrapped earlier this year after only two passengers booked to use the route.

Full story at http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/airline-provides-only-internal-flights-10308415


Conservatives demand more routes for Cardiff Airport after £3.5m government loan

Tory party members have called for the value of Cardiff Airport to be made public – two years after it was sold to the Welsh Government for £52 million. Conservative politicians have criticised the airport’s failure to attract new flights, but the Labour Welsh Government said securing routes was a long term process and that a route development loan had yet to come into play. In November 2014 ministers announced that Cardiff Airport was to get a £3.5m loan to help develop new routes, as part of the Welsh Government budget for 2015/16. That happened after Lufthansa-owned Germanwings said it would close its service to Dusseldorf in 2015. The Tories want the airport improved and then sold back to the private sector, and so far there is evidence that the money from hard-pressed taxpayers has achieved much. A LibDem councilor commented: “The big question remains… where is the plan?” Labour said: “The Conservatives need to show some patience, especially when demanding to see the results of a £3m loan that will not be available until the next financial year.”

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Cardiff Airport drop in passenger numbers prompts Tories’ private ownership call

The Welsh Conservatives have called for Cardiff Airport to be returned to private ownership after September saw a year-on-year drop in passenger numbers of 7%. The fall was described as “expected” by the Welsh Government. An air industry insider said: “This is more bad news for Cardiff Airport – and the figures don’t include the imminent closure of the CityJet route to Glasgow. The downward trend is noticeable – in August the passenger numbers were down 8.2% at 135,900.” Shadow Transport Minister Byron Davies said: “These reports of a near double digit decline in passenger numbers at Cardiff Airport in the past two months compared to 2013 are deeply concerning. Welsh Conservatives disagreed with Labour’s decision to spend £52m buying Cardiff Airport, but now it is state-owned, Labour ministers must work hard to help it achieve its potential.” There will soon be one Ryanair flight per week from Cardiff to Tenerife. All just holiday traffic. Bucket ‘n spade.

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Former boss of Cardiff airport says its expansion plans are massively unrealistic, without public subsidy

Keith Brooks, the former chief executive of airports group TBI, said Cardiff Airport’s passenger forecast is “massively unrealistic” and that it needs to be more realistic in its expectations. Last week, in an unexpected move, it was announced that the airport’s chief executive Jon Horne will stand down next week after only 18 months in the role. The airport’s director of operations will be interim managing director. While Cardiff airport has not published any specific short to long-term passenger growth targets, since being taken over by the Welsh Government for £52m last year it has arrested year-on-year decline. Annual passenger numbers now stand marginally up at just over one million. Keith Brooks said: “They have had massively unrealistic expectations of what they can do in this period [since acquisition]…..Aviation is a very slow moving industry and negotiations with airlines take a long time.” Getting a significant low-cost carrier, like Ryanair, to expand routes from very low levels would require “significant subsidy” inducements. That means government subsidy, and tax payers’ money. The Welsh government “will not just be able to turn things around in a short period of time.”

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Ryanair to have one flight per week to Tenerife in winter from Cardiff airport

Ryanair has been seen as the holy grail for passenger numbers at Cardiff Airport. But Cardiff will now have just one Ryanair route, once a week to Tenerife during the winter. “However, there is a wave of optimism that this one route will develop into a network that will improve the airline offering at Cardiff.” There is a history to the relationship between Ryanair and Cardiff Airport. Ryanair had a very successful route between Cardiff and Dublin from 2001 to 2006. The departure of Ryanair followed a reported disagreement with the airport over airport charges.improve the experience for all passengers. Ryanair is an opportunity if the passenger numbers on the new route convince Ryanair to develop even more new routes. However Ryanair would need to deliver substantial passenger numbers to compensate for the lower charges that Cardiff airport will be paid. It would also be necessary to maintain the existing carriers as competition so that Cardiff doesn’t become an airport totally reliant on a single carrier that is using market power to continuously drive down airport income.

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Ryanair has confirmed it is to return to Cardiff Airport with a new route to Tenerife

11.6.2014

The recent announcement that Ryanair is returning to Cardiff Airport, even though they operate into Cardiff’s close neighbour, Bristol Airport, has been taken as a sign that after a return to the public sector, Cardiff Airport is now returning to success. “We shouldn’t become too excited at this stage, Cardiff will have one route, once a week to Tenerife during the winter. However, there is a wave of optimism that this one route will develop into a network that will improve the airline offering at Cardiff.”  There is, however, a history to the relationship between Ryanair and Cardiff Airport. Ryanair had a very successful route between Cardiff and Dublin from 2001 to 2006. The departure of Ryanair followed a reported disagreement with the airport over airport charges. Details at

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-opinion/so-can-cardiff-airport-low-cost-7250121


Cardiff to Anglesey air link continues to get large government subsidy as bus grants are slashed

March 31, 2014 The Welsh Government has defended a big increase in subsidy for the North-South Wales air service while it cuts funding for lifeline bus services. From 2010-11 to 2012-13, subsidy for the flights between Anglesey and Cardiff increased by 37.2%. Subsidy was £184 for each passenger who used the service in 2012-13. Over the same 2-year period, the Welsh government reduced its grant to councils for unprofitable bus services by 29.2%. At least 94 bus routes have been withdrawn since 2011. Other services are under review because subsidy per passenger exceeds £2 or £3. The Welsh Government has been reviewing bus funding since early 2012 – but has not evaluated the air service’s costs and benefits since the global financial problems and major reductions in public-sector budgets. The route from Cardiff to Anglesey has 2 flights each way, each weekday, and there were almost 15,000 passenger journeys in 2008-09, but only 8,406 passenger journeys in 2012-13. Subsidy for the air operator and the civilian air terminal at RAF Valley on Anglesey increased from £1.08m in 2008-09 to £1.55m in 2012-13.

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Welsh Economy Minister says Cardiff Airport likely to return to profit only in ‘long-term’

March 21, 2014 The Welsh Economy Minister, Edwina Hart, has said that Cardiff Airport – now in public ownership – is likely to return to profit eventually, but not in the short term. She said its downward spiral is no longer continuing. The airport finally becoming profitable is a “long-term” strategy. She was giving evidence to the National Assembly’s Enterprise and Business Committee on the airport, which was bought by the Welsh Government for £52m at the end of 2012. Ms Hart suggested there wouldn’t be a quick sale of the airport back into the private sector, which the Scottish Government is seeking for the newly-nationalised Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire. Pressed by the Plaid Cymru economy spokesman on when the government expected the taxpayer to recoup its investment. She said the Budget announcement for support for regional airports to set up new routes would apply to Wales and that they would “wait for the detail of it”, but confirmed the Welsh Government is likely to bid in for funding. Chancellor George Osborne announced a £20m annual fund will be used to encourage new routes from regional hubs like Cardiff.

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Cardiff Airport shuttle bus from Cardiff centre to attract more traffic averages 4 passengers per journey

February 7, 2014 A shuttle bus to transport passengers from Cardiff centre to the airport has carried on average fewer than 4 passengers a journey since its launch in August 2013. The service is funded by the Welsh government, with the cost suggested to be around half a million ££s. The bus runes every 20 minutes and has so carried an average of 2,778 passengers a week. Last month the Conservatives said the service was “unsustainable”. A review of the service has been carried out by Prof Stuart Cole from the University of South Wales. Cardiff airport was bought by the Welsh government for £52m in March 2013 and the bus service is part of the strategy to reverse a slump in passenger numbers.A local MP said: “At almost half a million (pounds) in Welsh Labour government subsidy, that’s an exceptionally expensive service to support and on current passenger numbers is simply unsustainable.” But a Cardiff Business School transport expert said such services were needed to convince airlines there would be passengers available. “Airlines planning cycles are such that they’re not just going to start routes instantly. It’s going to take [6 – 12] months, to attract routes into the airport and, therefore, it’s a bit like the chicken and egg.”

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Sec of State for Wales says South Wales to Heathrow rail link would provide major economic boost

November 7, 2013 Secretary of State for Wales David Jones has said a £500m direct rail link between Heathrow and South Wales would be a major economic driver for the area. He said better infrastructure would play a crucial role in growth of the Welsh economy. Last year the UK Government outlined its commitment to the Western Rail Access scheme – a new rail link which will cut 30 minutes off the journey times from South Wales. Network Rail is currently looking at options for the proposed spur, including direct services from South Wales on the Great Western Main Line into Heathrow, or providing a separate shuttle service from Reading. And David Jones added the standard speil about “Fast and convenient links to our major airports are crucial as we look to compete in the global race.” What race? Colin Matthews said 8.8% of the 1.3 million people in the UK working for foreign-owned firms that use Heathrow are from Wales.      Click here to view full story…

Cardiff Airport is bought by the Welsh government for £52m (over-priced?)

March 27, 2013    The current owner of Cardiff Airport, Abertis, which bought the airport from local councils in 2005, has now managed to sell it to the Welsh Government for £52 million. That price is well above market value when compared to recent transactions involving UK airports. The airport was valued at about £34 million in 2010. It has been making large losses and losing passengers for many years. The Government is desperate that it gets more passengers and gets back to making a profit. Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones said it would not be operated by the government and would be managed “at arm’s length” and “on a commercial basis”. Cardiff’s passengers have declined from around 2 million in 2007 to just over 1 million in 2012, as many have chosen Bristol airport instead. Bristol airport is now concerned that Cardiff would now unfairly benefit from state support. Cardiff was hit by the loss of bmibaby in 2011. The airport’s board will try and get in a commercial operator and hopes to attract long haul and transatlantic flights. Only recently there was news that Swiss airline Helvetic will pull out of Cardiff, 2 years after the Welsh government spent £500,000 marketing Wales in Switzerland.

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Welsh government buying Cardiff airport from Abertis in £50m cash deal by the end of March

February 21, 2013      The Welsh Government is expected to complete its acquisition of Cardiff Airport by the end of March in a straight cash deal understood to be around £50m with current owner Abertis. A due diligence process is being undertaken on behalf of the Welsh Government. The deal will not see the Welsh Government taking on any debt at the airport – which posted pre-tax losses of just over £300,000 in 2011. In the short to medium term the Welsh Government would need to inject about £6m a year in capital expenditure and airline route development support – including agreeing to underwrite any losses in the first few years accrued by airlines establishing new routes out of Cardiff. ie public subsidy. It is understood that representatives of the Welsh Government have already sounded out a number of low cost airlines over setting up operations, including Ryanair – which was asking too much. Discussions are continuing. It is unlikely that the airport, post deal, would be directly owned by the Welsh Government but by some special purpose vehicle instead.   Click here to view full story…

Abertis considers sale of UK airports – Luton, Cardiff and Belfast International

February 25, 2013     Abertis, the Spanish owner of Luton, Cardiff and Belfast International airports, may sell them. According to The Sunday Times, Abertis has decided to sell the 3 airports as part of a review of its €1 billion transport division, and Citi and AZ Capital have been appointed to review the division. Luton airport has been surrounded by controversy over its development plans with the local council opposing Abertis’ plans for its development. The Welsh government is reported to be on the verge of buying Cardiff airport, which has had a large drop in traffic during the past few years. Albertis’ airport assets in Bolivia were nationalised by President Evo Morales last week, and it has lost money in Spain in recent years. Campaigners at Luton said the timing of the sale was unfortunate, with the airport’s current planning application – for which planning permission has not been secured. The sale threatens the investment on which the airport’s hugely expensive expansion plans are based.    Click here to view full story…

Bristol Airport flies more Welsh passengers than Cardiff

February 16, 2013      Provisional figures for 2012 indicate that more passengers from Wales use Bristol Airport than Cardiff. Over 1 million passengers used Cardiff in 2012, down about 200,000 in a year, with nearly 6 million at Bristol. The statistics suggest the scale of the task facing the Welsh government in improving Cardiff Airport’s fortunes as ministers finalise a deal to buy it. It is estimated that it amounts to the equivalent of about 1.1m passengers over a year flying from Bristol, having come from or going to places in Wales. The Welsh government is expected to take over Cardiff Airport over the next few months after a slump in passenger numbers from a peak of 2m in 2007. It is negotiating a price with Spanish owners Abertis and carrying out various checks and balances on the airport’s finances. The Mayor of Bristol says both airports have their problems, and it would be better if they could work together.    Click here to view full story…

Cardiff Airport: Carwyn Jones tells Assembly Members ‘no concerns’ over deal

January 31, 2013     The First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, has said the Welsh government is close to signing a deal to buy Cardiff Airport from its current owners, Abertis. He has told Welsh Assembly Members that checks on the airport’s finances had revealed “no concerns” though some experts had told him its commercial future as an airport was limited to a few years. The deal would be subject to a final price being agreed and due diligence being carried out on the finances of the airport. Cardiff had just over one million passengers in 2012, which is a drop of some 16% compared to 2011, which was itself some 14% lower than in 2010. The airport had two million passengers in 2007, and has been in decline ever since. It has hopes of growing its passenger number by 5 – 8% this year, which appears unlikely with a continuing recession. Ministers are considering a range of options on how to run the airport. Assembly Members are concerned the airport does not become a drain on taxpayers.     Click here to view full story…

Cardiff Airport buyout by Welsh government: Conservatives’ question if it’s value for money

January 10, 2013     On 18th December the Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones announced that the Welsh government wanted to buy Cardiff Airport from its current owners, TBI. He said they would be working towards a purchase over the next few months. and hoped the airport would be run on a commercial basis by an independent commercial operator on behalf of the government. Conservatives are calling on the Welsh government to prove that buying Cardiff Airport would be good value for the taxpayer, and see it as Labour’s attempt to “nationalise” the airport. Cardiff airport has had declining passenger numbers, down 13% in 2011 to a little over 1.2m, while passengers at Bristol increased by 1%. There was a further fall in the first half of 2012 to 440,000 from 558,000 – partly due to the departure of bmibaby. Despite assurances that it will not receive subsidies or burden the taxpayer, there have been questions about whether public ownership will succeed in turning around the airport’s fortunes.     Click here to view full story…

Plans to transform Cardiff from declining regional airport to international hub revealed

…. Heathrow’s 6th Terminal ??? October 31, 2012   Backers of what is being called the Western Gateway Project, have submitted details about it to the DfT as part of its consultation on aviation policy (closed 31st October). The plan is to transform Cardiff from an under-performing regional airport into an international hub. In a first-stage vision for the Spanish-owned airport a group of transport experts and entrepreneurs believe a relatively modest investment of £250m could elevate the airport into a “western gateway” facility – potentially providing hub and point-to-point flights to global destinations such as North and Latin America – while also helping to address the issue of where to provide additional hub airport capacity in the UK. The group plans to make a fuller submission to the Airports Commission next year. As well as founder and entrepreneur Rudi Plaut the group’s other members include enterprise academic Professor Brian Morgan and transport experts Martin Evans and Stuart Cole. They will now look to work with the Welsh Government to develop a more in-depth business case for a hub airport.   Click here to view full story…

Cardiff airport losing money and losing passengers to Bristol

September 11, 2012    Cardiff airport has not been doing well over recent years, with passenger numbers in 2011 down by 43% compared to the peak in 2007. Now Swiss airline, Helvetic, will move its service to Bristol. Budget airline Vueling, which operates services to Barcelona, Alicante and Palma through the summer, will not run any flights from Cardiff through the winter period either. Passengers decreased 14% year-on-year in 2011, largely due to the withdrawal of budget airline bmibaby last October. The airport made a £319,000 loss in 2011, compared with a profit of more than £1m in 2010, £333,000 profit in 2009, £4m profit in 2008 and £7.2m profit in 2007.. First Minister Carwyn Jones has set up a taskforce, which met for the first time in June, to look at securing the airport’s future. Bristol airport seems to be expanding while Cardiff shrinks, with more Welsh travellers choosing Bristol instead. [Contains several recent Cardiff news items]  Click here to view full story…

Bmibaby to stop flying from Cardiff and Manchester

14th April 2011    Bmibaby has announced it will cease flying from Cardiff and Manchester airports from the end of this summer. The airline said it needed to focus on its more established routes during the current economic climate. As a result, four Bmibaby planes will be redeployed to Belfast, East Midlands and Birmingham  – the only UK airports from which it will fly.  It now operates 40 flights a week from Manchester and 30  from Cardiff to European destinations.   Click here to view full story…

Cardiff Airport’s future in spotlight as bmibaby exit

15th April 2011      Questions have been raised about the long-term future of Cardiff Airport after Bmibaby’s decision to halt operations there. Air lobby group Wales Air Network said Cardiff was on course to become the size of a much smaller regional airport, such as Newquay.  Bmibaby will pull out of Cardiff in the autumn. It employs 69 people at Cardiff, and blamed the economic climate for its withdrawal, saying it would focus on airports with strong growth opportunities.     Click here to view full story…

Flybe expansion could lead to new routes from Cardiff Airport

26th July 2010    Flybe says it is investing in more planes and there could be more routes from Cardiff – of which there are currently 11. It is buying up to 140 planes, and destinations such as Dusseldorf, Lyon and Frankfurt could be available as it looks to focus on the business market. The company, which is Europe’s largest regional airline, has a firm order for 35 planes which carry 88 passengers in a 2×2 seat layout as it looks to expand its British and European operations.    Click here to view full story…

Daily Cardiff to New York City flight talks ‘end’

10th June 2010     Discussions have been taking place between Cardiff airport and Delta, to establish a daily flight to JFK in New York. But there are now no plans to launch the service. Delta declined to comment on reports that it had asked for the assembly government to underwrite any losses made by the service. The Welsh assembly government said it is “committed” to an air link. Cardiff airport continue talking to airlines to expand their range of routes. (BBC)     Click here to view full story…

New operator – Man for Cardiff to Anglesey air service

30th April 2010     Isle of Man based Manx2.com with its partner FLM Aviation will resume the Cardiff-Anglesey service on Monday 10th May for 7 months. The Welsh Assembly government said a further tendering process will begin to appoint an operator for a 4-year contract. The Cardiff to Anglesey air link started in May 2007, with two flights a day both ways, attracting 40,000 passengers to date. The journey is a slow one by rail. (BBC)   Click here to view full story…

Shuttle bus between Cardiff Airport and station may end

13th April 2010    A shuttle bus linking Cardiff Airport with its nearest railway station may be withdrawn at the end of next month. The airport can no longer afford the £100,000 for the service which started in 2005 following the opening of a new station at Rhoose, and only carries less than 1,000 passengers a week. A taxi firm is interested in providing an alternative. (BBC)    Click here to view full story…   26.03.10 Highland Airways in administration 16.03.10 Cardiff Airport passengers down 18% 12.03.10 Cardiff Airport terminal expansion plans approved

Highland Airways – North-south Wales airline enters administration

26th March 2010    Planes flying the north to south Wales air route have been grounded. Highland Airways that operated the service has entered administration with further bookings being taken. Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said the Welsh Assembly Government would take action to restore it. Highland Airways was awarded a three-year contract to run the north-south Wales route from May 2007. The service had £800,000 a year funding from the assembly government. (BBC) Click here to view full story…

Highland Airline no comment on service

12.3.2010  Highland Airways has refused to comment on its future involvement in a service between Cardiff and Anglesey in Wales.  The airline has been in discussions with a potential investor after hitting financial troubles made worse by severe weather affecting flights. Its contract with the Welsh Assembly Government ends in May and the route has been put out to tender.  Click here to view full story  …..

 Airport extension plan is approved

12.3.2010    A scheme for a multi-million-pound extension to the terminal at Cardiff Airport has been approved.  Work on the project to improve the appearance of the airport will begin later this year. Approval of the plans by Vale of Glamorgan councillors came as plans for a dedicated bus service to the airport were announced. The £5m-plus improvement will see the arrivals and departures halls linked into one large area, with new food and retail premises, and the building will get a contemporary design.   Click here to view full story …..

Airline lifts booking restrictions

2nd February 2010   The Inverness-based firm, which employs about 100 people, had put restrictions on its bookings while talks were held to secure new investment.    (BBC) Cllick here to view full story ….

Clarity call on the Cardiff to Anglesey route as Highland stops bookings

26th January 2010     Calls for clarity on the future of the air route are made after the air firm running it said it was facing “continuing problems”.  The twice-daily route between Anglesey and Cardiff is operated by Highland with £800,000 public subsidy from the Welsh Assembly Government. Tenders for a new contract for the route ended on Weds and it is understood only Highland Airways bid. The route has a Public Service Obligation (PSO) condition. (BBC)   Click here to view full story…   23.01.10 Cardiff Airport plan £5m terminal upgrade 21.01.10 Flybe increase Cardiff – Belfast flights after bmibaby ‘pull out’ 03.01.10 Expert urges Cardiff Airport marketing

 £5m redesign plans for Cardiff airport’s terminal

23rd January 2010     The redesign, part of the airport’s wider £15m investment strategy, has reached the planning stage and work could start later this year. Plans have been drawn up to extend the front of the terminal, link the arrivals and departures halls, and provide new food and retail services – to boost business. Better public transport to the airport is being investigated. However, improving the terminal alone is not going to bring the airport more business. (BBC)    Click here to view full story…   19.11.09 Cardiff Airport seeks new transatlantic carrier

26.11.09 Cardiff Airport gets Bali connection

Cardiff Airport airline (bmibaby) plans to cut 158 jobs

6th November 2009    Flights from Cardiff Airport could be affected after bmibaby announced plans to cut 158 jobs. They aim to make the cutbacks from its workers at Cardiff, Birmingham and Manchester Airports. Up to 54 pilot and 82 cabin crew positions at the 3 airports are at risk of redundancy and 22 management and support positions. Bmibaby also announced it was reducing the number of aircraft in its fleet from 17 to 12 next year.    Click here to view full story…

After 2 days in the job, new bmibaby boss makes a quarter of staff redundant

5th November 2009    A quarter of the staff at bmibaby have been told they are to lose their jobs, only 2 days after Lufthansa, its parent, put a new boss in charge of the loss-making airline. The company said that 158 of its 633 employees would go after a 90-day consultation period. The job losses will include 54 pilots and 82 cabin crew based at Birmingham, Manchester and Cardiff. There will also be 22 management redundancies. (Times)   Click here to view full story…  

Cardiff Airport road scheme axed

20th July 2009     Plans for a new link road to Cardiff Airport have been scrapped because of the cost. It was announced at the unveiling of a 5-year transport plan. Only a fraction of the benefits a proposed airport link road would bring the area were associated with the airport. As an alternative, the assembly government would investigate a half-hourly express bus service from Cardiff city centre to the airport, and more frequent train services. (UK Airport News)    Click here to view full story…

 Aberdeen: North-east’s new link with Cardiff is launched

22nd April 2009   Transport links between the north-east and Wales were strengthened with the launch of a direct flight between Aberdeen and Cardiff, which will fly 6 days a week. It is the 9th route provided by Flybe and Loganair from Aberdeen. The firms became franchise partners in October. The service will operate from Sunday to Friday with fares available from £44.99. It is expected to be used bybusiness travellers, students, tourists and residents. (Press and Journal)     Click here to view full story…

For news of the protest by NEVAR against the road schemes, see below………

 

Residents oppose Cardiff airport access road

Angry residents campaigning against plans to build an access road to Cardiff Airport mounted a protest in Barry yesterday. The Welsh Assembly Government has asked for the public’s view on 3 options for a road to the airport. Many Vale residents do not want a new road at all. An anti-access road action group – NEVAR (No Ely Valley Airport Road) – held a demonstration outside the Civic Offices, saying there was no need for an access road. (Wales online and BBC)    2.10.2008

Outrage at plans for link road to Cardiff airport

Options for a proposed link road to Cardiff International Airport, one of which cuts through a Barry Golf Course, has sparked a wave of opposition. The three options for the new road have been put forward by Consultants Ove Arup & Partners Ltd and staff from Transport Wales, on behalf of the the Welsh Assembly Government, in a bid to deal with growing levels of traffic to and from the airport. (Barry and District News)   8.8.2008   Some  news:   February 2009 01.02.09 Cardiff Airport ‘optimistic’ despite passenger drop in 2008 January 2009 29.01.09 bmibaby announce Cardiff – Almeria flights  03.01.09 New Cardiff based airline still confident of takeoff December 2008 31.12.08 Name change for Cardiff Airport? 30.12.08 bmibaby announce Cardiff – Menorca flights 27.12.08 Cardiff Airport road plans ‘put on back burner’ 10.12.08 Cardiff Airport says Welsh Assembly ‘un-business like’ November 2008 15.11.08 National Trust opposed Cardiff Airport road plans 01.11.08 bmibaby celebrate Cardiff Airport milestone October 2008 05.10.08 Cardiff Airport road scheme protest September 2008 25.09.08 Flyglobespan announce Cardiff – Toronto flights 25.09.08 Flyglobespan announce Cardiff – Toronto flights 13.09.08 bmibaby axe October Cardiff – Barcelona flights 11.09.08 bmibaby unveils new summer routes 01.09.08 Villagers meet to discuss Cardiff Airport road plans August 2008 30.08.08 Cardiff Airport wants to replace Zoom flights 16.08.08 Cardiff Airport road could cost £135m 11.08.08 Report reveals plane incidents over Wales   July 2008   31.07.08 MP calls for Cardiff Airport expansion 18.07.08 Thomas Cook expand from Cardiff and Leeds Bradford 11.07.08 bmibaby put more winter routes on sale 05.07.08 Public meetings on Cardiff airport access proposals   June 2008   28.06.08 bmibaby to cut Cardiff Airport flights 28.06.08 BA Cardiff Airport milestone 26.06.08 Cardiff Airport considering name change 25.06.08 Cardiff Airport appoint development director 23.06.08 Cardiff Airport say air fare rises won’t hit passenger numbers 20.06.08 bmibaby release Cardiff Airport winter flights May 2008   24.05.08 bmibaby launch Cardiff – Barcelona flights 07.05.08 Environmentalists slam Welsh air link subsidy April 2008   27.04.08 Strong demand sees Zoom expand Cardiff – Toronto service 01.04.08 Cardiff – Gdansk flights launched   March 2008   23.03.08 Cardiff Airport wants to be Wales’ national hub 14.03.08 bmibaby announce Cardiff – Barcelona route 10.03.08 New Cardiff – Newquay flights take off 04.03.08 Holiday flights most popular from Cardiff Airport       Febraury 2008 22.02.08 Eastern announce lower fares on new routes 20.02.08 Skybus to launch Newquay – Cardiff Airport flights 12.02.08 Cardiff – Warsaw flights launched 11.02.08 Airlines prepare for Cardiff Airport battle 06.02.08 Cardiff Airport announce new boss 02.02.08 Expansion for Eastern Airways at Aberdeen and Newcastle January 2008 30.01.08 Cardiff Airport launch ‘fly direct’ campaign 24.01.08 Aer Arann says regional airports reduce delays, better for environment 16.01.08 Record 2.1m use Cardiff Airport in 2007 15.01.08 New EU airports directive could give Cardiff Airport an advantage over Bristol 12.01.08 New summer service to Jersey for Cardiff Airport December 2007 18.12.07 Cardiff Airport expect record Christmas passengers 11.12.07 New Cardiff Airport – Newquay route for Skybus 03.12.07 bmibaby confident ahead of battle with Flybe at Cardiff Airport and more ………

All articles in reverse date order