Cardiff: General Airport Discussion & Updates

[Jerry]

It was used to house homeless during the pandemic. As with everywhere the housing market went crazy. I know of a few people who were sent there in the years afterwards. Since then it’s not reopened to the public and I’m not sure if there is a plan to do so. I guess it will once the council contracts dry up. I believe they offer airport parking as an alternative to parking in the official CWL car parks.

Elsewhere someone has stated that it's being refurbished and will open again in December.

 

[Jerry]

How long now has the Holiday Inn been closed as an airport hotel? Did it reopen after Covid?

Vale of Glamorgan Council statement on the use of the Holiday Inn
View attachment 32678View attachment 32679

 

[geoff]

News on social media, is that ONE Air are receiving a brand new B777 G-ONEG within a couple of weeks, it will be based at CWL initially for crew training.

 

[Jerry]

News on social media, is that ONE Air are receiving a brand new B777 G-ONEG within a couple of weeks, it will be based at CWL initially for crew training.

Will be one for the spotters! CWL does seem to have a good relationship with ONE Air.

 

[Jerry]

@Silvercity posted this article about Bournemouth, Norwich and Exeter being sold for £200 million. £66.6 million for each airport. CWL was bought for £52 million. It's an interesting article and I've posted here because these 3 airports are more in CWLs peer group as airports.

The UK Regional Airport Buyout Boom: A Strategic Bet on Post-Pandemic Aviation Recovery

The UK Regional Airport Buyout Boom: A Strategic Bet on Post-Pandemic Aviation Recovery

www.ainvest.com

 

[geoff]

I was reading this week, that several large investment companies have been showing interest in several different UK airports as the value of them has risen in value hugely in the past year. It may be an opportunity for CWL to sell part of its ownership, to a rich investment fund, it could save them lot of aggravation for their investment plan.

 

[Jerry]

I was reading this week, that several large investment companies have been showing interest in several different UK airports as the value of them has risen in value hugely in the past year. It may be an opportunity for CWL to sell part of its ownership, to a rich investment fund, it could save them lot of aggravation for their investment plan.

Investment funds will want a return on their investment though so how do you persuade them that CWL is a good investment when it's not profitable? I'd imagine a £200 million investment over 10 years and a plan for that investment might help but if the noisy neighbour next door gets that squashed and any future investments as well what happens then?

 

[geoff]

I don't think private investment will take place in the immediate future, but if CWL can show that its future is bright and things are going in the right direction, an investment fund might get a share in CWL at a cheaper cost, than waiting for the airport to become profitable. The other possibility is that there is a Senedd election next year, and if someone like Reform get in it could take place sooner rather then later, although I would not like seeing the Welsh Government divulging itself of the airport altogether.

 

[Samdorob]

although I would not like seeing the Welsh Government divulging itself of the airport altogether.

I agree. I think in order to make sure the airports future is safe, there needs to be a portion that remains under public ownership.

 

[Jerry]

and if someone like Reform get in it could take place sooner rather then later, although I would not like seeing the Welsh Government divulging itself of the airport altogether.

I think it's likely a Reform government would look to sell it more to an operator than an investor. My concern with Reform is that they'll probably not be picky who they sell it to and we may end up with CWL going down the same route as Doncaster with a future government having to buy it back. For me there needs to be the guarantee that CWL will remain an operational scheduled airport. Welsh government retaining a share holding would guarantee that but I suspect Reform wouldn't be interested in that.

 

[StanMan]

To follow up on Jerry's point, let's not forget how and why Welsh Government got involved in the first place. The airport was owned by a consortium of local authorities who, in 1995, sold the airport TBI. In 2005, TBI were bought out by Spanish firm Abertis. In 2015, Abertis shut down its airport operations arm to focus totally on 'infrastructure management' - mostly roads. They obviously knew for some time that they were going to exit the airports business, and never invested in Cardiff in any useful or meaningful way - which is what led to WG 'rescuing' the airport in 2013. As a result - in my opinion - the 10 years under Abertis was the cause of the decline that CWL still struggles to recover from.

 

[Barry Man]

I have to mention that during the time Abertis owned the airport the day today running and spending was down to TBI who were left to run the airport on their behalf, I don’t think a lot of people know this and remember TBI were a Welsh firm , this was mentioned to me when I came back to work at the airport by the staff that saw a lot what was going decline in it .
Before I left the Airport I was there when the 3 councils owned it and they really did invest into it, when it was sold we all thought great Welsh firm will really look after and invest in the airport , I even have a Brochure which shows what they intend todo , would have been huge development but as a private firm money came first for them and if it they need to spend it was done on the done on the cheap side , the decline started. ( TBI were after to buy Bristol but never succeeded weren’t they lucky).
Being in Security at the time we saw a lot what was going on with TBI really milked the Airport for their own ends . So when people wish for it to be sold to a private investor be careful for what you wish for .

 

[Jerry]

Have to wonder with the loss of Edinburgh and if there's no replacement whether the Welsh government would lobby Westminster for control of the domestic band of APD?

 

[geoff]

Social media reporting that the ONE AIR new 777 is being delivered this week, they are due a second 777 in November reg. G-ONEH, and a fourth 747 by the New Year.

 

[Jerry]

Cardiff is running a photo competition.
View attachment 32768

 

[Jerry]

People knock Cardiff Airport but it does get quite a lot of variety for a small airport from charters to cargo aircraft to military aircraft, good for us planespotters. Just sad it's not my local airport anymore.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1964218279808860307

 

[fly4gigs]

As Bristol and Cardiff airports tussle, is it time for the ‘far-fetched’ Severnside?

As the cities clash over their hubs, the case for one facility on an artificial island first proposed in 2003 gets stronger

www.theguardian.com

 

[MrFenner]

As Bristol and Cardiff airports tussle, is it time for the ‘far-fetched’ Severnside?

As the cities clash over their hubs, the case for one facility on an artificial island first proposed in 2003 gets stronger

www.theguardian.com

Slow news day presumably…

 

[Jerry]

Slow news day presumably…

Severnside airport does usually pop up now and then but it's a dead project that'll never happen but that doesn't stop it getting brought up usually in the argument to shut Cardiff down.

 

[Qing4theloo]

Well I wonder how much this "Severn Island Airport" project would cost. It would certainly make the Senedd's £204m look like peanuts in comparison.
As for Bristol Airport's continuing legal action, why shouldn't a democratically-elected government support their constituents' airport?
Did Bristol Airport Plc put their hands in their pockets to contribute towards the £45m South Bristol Link Road project? After all, it has vastly improved access to the airport from the East of Bristol and Clifton.
What a surprise! It was paid for by Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council and the Department for Transport.