Cardiff: General Airport Discussion & Updates

[geoff]

Reported on face book for load factors on FR, Vueling, and Aer Lingus, on Friday 27th June, all in the high 90's %, a couple with 100%.

 

[Samdorob]

Yeah i think so too. 1.2 million probably a bit too ambitious.

That’s going to depend on what Ryanair do for next summer. The airport is generally seeing a 10% increase this year which will place it just shy of a million by the year end. With TUI’s expansion, 1.1m could be reached in 2026. I think we would need to see an extra 4 or 5 Ryanair flights a week to get to the 1.2 mark (that’s off the top of my head maths btw).

 

[Jerry]

That’s going to depend on what Ryanair do for next summer. The airport is generally seeing a 10% increase this year which will place it just shy of a million by the year end. With TUI’s expansion, 1.1m could be reached in 2026. I think we would need to see an extra 4 or 5 Ryanair flights a week to get to the 1.2 mark (that’s off the top of my head maths btw).

Well hopefully we'll see Dublin go daily and a route like PMI introduced that could potentially see 3 weekly departures extra.

 

[Samdorob]

Well hopefully we'll see Dublin go daily and a route like PMI introduced that could potentially see 3 weekly departures extra.

Definitely I don’t think it’s completely out of the question. Dublin could easily become daily. The resumption of Malta at 2 weekly and a brand new route like PMI (2 weekly) would see those 5 extra weekly flights achieved.

 

[geoff]

A large article in Aviation news, and Cardiff News and information page on face book setting out 16 destinations and underserved routes, which CWL wish to operate to including Dubai and Canada, it's a very interesting read.

 

[Jerry]

A large article in Aviation news, and Cardiff News and information page on face book setting out 16 destinations and underserved routes, which CWL wish to operate to including Dubai and Canada, it's a very interesting read.

Do you have a link or screenshot?

Do you have a link or screenshot?

Found it!

 

[lloyd36]

Just wondering, after what happened with BMI, do you think Cardiff is in danger if relying too much on one airline again?
I guess there isn't much they can do about it and its great news about the expansion on flights etc. I just starting to think do we have a lot of eggs in one basket so to speak?

 

[Jerry]

Just wondering, after what happened with BMI, do you think Cardiff is in danger if relying too much on one airline again?
I guess there isn't much they can do about it and its great news about the expansion on flights etc. I just starting to think do we have a lot of eggs in one basket so to speak?

Not really much choice. TUI and Ryanair seem to be the only airlines interested in any sort of expansion at Cardiff.

 

[Samdorob]

do you think Cardiff is in danger if relying too much on one airline again?

I do think there’s currently an over reliance on TUI. Whilst the expansion is great, the airport really needs another carrier with the same volume of flights so it’s protected if the worst was to happen. The problem is, there aren’t many other carriers left. Those that are haven’t been interested in Cardiff in the past.

 

[Jerry]

I do think there’s currently an over reliance on TUI. Whilst the expansion is great, the airport really needs another carrier with the same volume of flights so it’s protected if the worst was to happen. The problem is, there aren’t many other carriers left. Those that are haven’t been interested in Cardiff in the past.

That's part of the problem for Cardiff, big airlines like Easyjet just don't seem interested operating from there.

 

[Seasider]

It has been said before, there are too many airports in UK for the size it is.

 

[MrFenner]

It has been said before, there are too many airports in UK for the size it is.

On the other hand, a lot of airports that are at or near capacity without any quick resolve in relation to planning permissions and getting things built quickly, carriers will be looking at other airports where there is that spare capacity.

 

[Seasider]

Taking BRS as an example (restricted to 12 million) they could operate flights from BHX or SOU where they already operate from rather than set up a new operation at an airport. That is by far the cheapest option, which seems to be the rule at the moment.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

Taking BRS as an example (restricted to 12 million) they could operate flights from BHX or SOU where they already operate from rather than set up a new operation at an airport. That is by far the cheapest option, which seems to be the rule at the moment.

If we lived in a country where Aviation was spread out and not privatised then that may work. But we don't, Airlines are private companies all competing with each other. If Easyjet decide they are going to spread their market between BHX and SOU, another Airline will just come in and take their share.

I think what Mr Fenner is refering too is there is a large chunk of Welsh passengers using BRS and BHX/LON that would happily use CWL.
Whereas for other parts of the BRS catchment, BRS is the best option for many. Anyone North of BRS will have the option of BRS, BHX and LON. Anyone south and east of BRS can choose BRS, LON, BOH, EXT and SOU. Where most can choose either direction without driving past their nearest Airport (CWL)

 

[Jerry]

Will be interesting to see what happens especially as any ruling could effect other airports.

Bristol Airport launches legal challenge against Welsh Government over Cardiff Airport support

Emily Price Bristol Airport has launched a legal challenge objecting to Welsh Government support for Cardiff Airport. In a written statement published on Wednesday (July 9) Cabinet Secretary for Economy Rebecca Evans said the legal action concerned an investment package of £205.2m across a...

nation.cymru

 

[Aviador]

I do think there’s currently an over reliance on TUI.

I think that could equally be said for many airports in the UK if I'm honest.

 

[geoff]

I think BRS maybe getting a bit jittery, with TUI expanding at CWL, their own expansion plans are likely to face a lot of opposition, to be allowed to cater for 15 million passengers, as they had a great deal of opposition to get permission to operate for 12 million passengers. Perhaps they are worried they may lose the 2million Welsh passengers that travel from BRS.

 

[Jerry]

I think BRS maybe getting a bit jittery, with TUI expanding at CWL, their own expansion plans are likely to face a lot of opposition, to be allowed to cater for 15 million passengers, as they had a great deal of opposition to get permission to operate for 12 million passengers. Perhaps they are worried they may lose the 2million Welsh passengers that travel from BRS.

Cardiffs existence didn't effect them getting permission for 12 million i don't see why it would for 15 million.
As for passenger numbers from Wales they've consistently stayed at around 20% of their total. Pre pandemic both Cardiff and Bristol were growing. It's not like Bristol is a struggling airport. Though of course say an extra 1 million passengers is a lot of revenue there's no guarantee all those passengers will fly from Bristol.
I do wonder why now? The Welsh Government has been investing in Cardiff for a long time now including a bailout in 2020. Why not challenge that? Well I suppose it'll keep the lawyer's busy! And no doubt there'll be some salivating at the thought of the possibility of Cardiff closing.

 

[Seasider]

I don't know why BRS get getting "excited" about the subsidy to CWL by the Welsh government, Doncaster Borough council want to subsidise DSA by over £100 million.

 

[Jerry]

I don't know why BRS get getting "excited" about the subsidy to CWL by the Welsh government, Doncaster Borough council want to subsidise DSA by over £100 million.

I do personally wonder why now though? It's not as if this isn't the first time the Welsh government has announced support for Cardiff.