CARDIFF - 2
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May 2013 stats are out.
Passenger numbers up 8.7% with flights up 2.2%. Successful month for the airport, but still a long way to go.
Also the Porto flights was a Newmarket Holidays charter. Small Planet Airlines 737. Will be back next week. Genoa and Naples depart in October.
Passenger numbers up 8.7% with flights up 2.2%. Successful month for the airport, but still a long way to go.
Also the Porto flights was a Newmarket Holidays charter. Small Planet Airlines 737. Will be back next week. Genoa and Naples depart in October.
Last edited by planenut321; 17th Jun 2013 at 18:36.
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Told it's financial. The founder seems to not frequent the site often these days.
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New express bus service to be launched between Cardiff and Cardiff Airport
A new bus service is set to link Cardiff with Cardiff Airport.
An express bus service running every 20 minutes almost round the clock between the city centre and Cardiff Airport is to launch next month, under new plans.
The Vale of Glamorgan council is inviting bus operators to bid to run the service, which comes four months after the Welsh Government’s £52m takeover of the Rhoose terminal.
It will be scheduled to run approximately every 20 minutes between 4am and midnight, 363 days a year, according to the contract notice.
The notice does not provide details on the exact route or the location of stops, but describes it as a “high profile, quality, limited stop, express local bus service”.
Vehicles will be supplied by the council, but fully maintained – including onboard services such as free WiFi – by the successful contractor.
Source - Wales Online via Wales Air Forum
An express bus service running every 20 minutes almost round the clock between the city centre and Cardiff Airport is to launch next month, under new plans.
The Vale of Glamorgan council is inviting bus operators to bid to run the service, which comes four months after the Welsh Government’s £52m takeover of the Rhoose terminal.
It will be scheduled to run approximately every 20 minutes between 4am and midnight, 363 days a year, according to the contract notice.
The notice does not provide details on the exact route or the location of stops, but describes it as a “high profile, quality, limited stop, express local bus service”.
Vehicles will be supplied by the council, but fully maintained – including onboard services such as free WiFi – by the successful contractor.
Source - Wales Online via Wales Air Forum
Last edited by mathers_wales_uk; 10th Jul 2013 at 17:55.
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Great news. From 0400am too, until midnight. The fares are excellent too, making the town centre so much more accessable, things are looking up!
P.s. my chums were charged over £30 to Cathays, via the taxi service. thats dear. Wonder where it will stop?????
P.s. my chums were charged over £30 to Cathays, via the taxi service. thats dear. Wonder where it will stop?????
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In the good ol' days Cardiff Bus terminated their airport/Llantwit Major services early evening but then the bus operator that was based on Llandow airfield, I can't recall their identity, operated some pretty tatty mini buses (circa 18 seats) on the Llantwit Major to Cardiff run not just for airport punters but they were great for getting home from the Fontygary Inn in Rhoose Village.
This new service, providing it runs the Llantwit Major route (after all not all the airport punters hail from the Barry/Cardiff direction) it'll be great for getting home from the pub also and serve to curtail drinking and driving although I do have to smile regarding the WiFi.
Between Culverhouse Cross (on the edge of Cardiff) and the airport it is a distance of some 7 miles during which there are 12, yes twelve, roundabouts, just how much opportunity are the punters going to get to focus on their WiFi devices never mind tap away in to them ... and as for the drunks getting a ride home from the pubs, do they really care less regarding WiFi?
This new service, providing it runs the Llantwit Major route (after all not all the airport punters hail from the Barry/Cardiff direction) it'll be great for getting home from the pub also and serve to curtail drinking and driving although I do have to smile regarding the WiFi.
Between Culverhouse Cross (on the edge of Cardiff) and the airport it is a distance of some 7 miles during which there are 12, yes twelve, roundabouts, just how much opportunity are the punters going to get to focus on their WiFi devices never mind tap away in to them ... and as for the drunks getting a ride home from the pubs, do they really care less regarding WiFi?
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DJ6
It would be unreasonable to expect dramatic changes in such a short time as airlines and tour operators tend to work at least a year in advice so you should reasonably expect to see some changes with effect from Summer 14.
That used the airport a few weeks ago and was pleased at the new arrivals area and the fact that the terminal appeared cleaner - first impressions count.
Also, remember VY annouced they would be going year round on ALC and AGP post anouncement. Also recent editions of TUI Summer 14 seem to show additional nighl flights on CWL - PMI and IBZ for extended periods next - small steps but in the right direction!
That used the airport a few weeks ago and was pleased at the new arrivals area and the fact that the terminal appeared cleaner - first impressions count.
Also, remember VY annouced they would be going year round on ALC and AGP post anouncement. Also recent editions of TUI Summer 14 seem to show additional nighl flights on CWL - PMI and IBZ for extended periods next - small steps but in the right direction!
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Actually the Welsh Government purchasing the airport only a couple of months ago would have had very little impact in attracting both airlines and any new routes for Summer 2013 or Winter 2013 as the schedule for these had been finalised for a long time.
Some do not understand how much hard work and effort goes into attracting new airlines as it took four years between Cardiff Airport first meeting with Vueling airlines and them starting operating last year.
If some are disappointed then I think some need to wake up and take a reality check at what has been a lot of positives for the airport.
For all the previous negativity published in the media up over recent years there is a heck of a lot of positives to look at especially as passenger numbers were up for May 2013 and likely to be again in June 2013.
It is not too late to see some positive news for Summer 2014 and no doubt the management team at Cardiff Airport are doing their hardest as they have been doing to date. The new Cardiff Airport boss Jon Horne has said several times that it's not going to be a quick recovery however Cardiff Airport will get busier and he is up for the challenge.
It maybe time now that the politicians start taking a back seat and leave it to professionals do the talking otherwise they may continue to promise the public the airlines and routes that will be longer and harder to attract than they can imagine.
Some do not understand how much hard work and effort goes into attracting new airlines as it took four years between Cardiff Airport first meeting with Vueling airlines and them starting operating last year.
If some are disappointed then I think some need to wake up and take a reality check at what has been a lot of positives for the airport.
- Vueling increase capacity by over 80% for Summer 2013
- Vueling add additional route to Malaga for Summer 2013
- Thomson Airways 3 additional weekly flights during peak Summer 2013
- Air Europa to operate weekly Palma flights on behalf of Thomson Airways Summer 2013
- Thomas Cook increased capacity at Cardiff by over 10,000 seats for Summer 2013
- Air Malta adds a weekly flight to Malta Summer 2013
- Aer Lingus increased to up to 3 x daily for Summer 2013
- Thomson Airways capacity increased by 17% for Winter 2013
- Vueling to offer year round services to Malaga & Alicante for Winter 2013
- Aer Lingus increased to up to 3 x daily for Winter 2013
For all the previous negativity published in the media up over recent years there is a heck of a lot of positives to look at especially as passenger numbers were up for May 2013 and likely to be again in June 2013.
It is not too late to see some positive news for Summer 2014 and no doubt the management team at Cardiff Airport are doing their hardest as they have been doing to date. The new Cardiff Airport boss Jon Horne has said several times that it's not going to be a quick recovery however Cardiff Airport will get busier and he is up for the challenge.
It maybe time now that the politicians start taking a back seat and leave it to professionals do the talking otherwise they may continue to promise the public the airlines and routes that will be longer and harder to attract than they can imagine.
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Official stats released today by the Civil Aviation Authority shows that Cardiff Airport passenger number for June 2013 was up 9.5%. This adds to the 8.7% increase for the month of May 2013 against 2012.
Based on the article released today we may have to be braced for lower increases in July/August due to the glorious UK weather causing a slump in last minute sales. UK's sweltering summer puts a dampened on the lates
Another article released today has been on the increase of British visitors to Spain. Of cours this is timely due to the very subject being raised on this thread earlier. British visitors to Spain on the Up
All three flight increases by Thomson Airways for Summer 2013 which are mentioned in my previous post are to Spanish destination. 2 x Palma de Mallorca & 1 x Ibiza. The Air Europa flight operates to Palma de Mallorca and of course the additional 4 x weekly Malaga flights operated by Vueling.
Based on the article released today we may have to be braced for lower increases in July/August due to the glorious UK weather causing a slump in last minute sales. UK's sweltering summer puts a dampened on the lates
Another article released today has been on the increase of British visitors to Spain. Of cours this is timely due to the very subject being raised on this thread earlier. British visitors to Spain on the Up
All three flight increases by Thomson Airways for Summer 2013 which are mentioned in my previous post are to Spanish destination. 2 x Palma de Mallorca & 1 x Ibiza. The Air Europa flight operates to Palma de Mallorca and of course the additional 4 x weekly Malaga flights operated by Vueling.
Last edited by mathers_wales_uk; 16th Jul 2013 at 16:48.
cym, mathers and supermarine - I really do appreciate your sentiment, trying to encourage us all to be supportive of Cardiff airport.
I guess what really gets me, is that Cardiff airport seems to be very heavily aimed at increasing the ways that Welsh residents can spend their leisure time on a Mediterranean beach. An example of this, is that Cardiff seems to be the only normal UK airport (oil-centric Scatsta doesn't count) to have significantly more charter passengers than scheduled passengers. Spending money over a week in Alicante does very little for the Welsh or UK economy.
There seems to be a lack of focus on encouraging tourists from outside Wales to pay a visit, or encouraging business routes which would lead to inward investment and stimulate jobs - if the Welsh Assembly felt it was worthwhile spending large amounts of taxpayer funds to nationalise the airport, then this is where the focus should lie. Govt should not be spending tax money on making it easier for the wealthier sections of society to go on holiday abroad !
Right now, Flybe + Eastern have the UK market sewn up nicely - with pretty much zero competition. The only significant continental connection that's useful for business is to Amsterdam.
Yes, the extra few flights per week to Dublin and the 1x weekly Dusseldorf is a start, but it's frankly not a lot.
Reprioritise Cardiff airport from an exporter of tourists to becoming a potential importer of investment / engine for trade and jobs and I'll be much more impressed.
I guess what really gets me, is that Cardiff airport seems to be very heavily aimed at increasing the ways that Welsh residents can spend their leisure time on a Mediterranean beach. An example of this, is that Cardiff seems to be the only normal UK airport (oil-centric Scatsta doesn't count) to have significantly more charter passengers than scheduled passengers. Spending money over a week in Alicante does very little for the Welsh or UK economy.
There seems to be a lack of focus on encouraging tourists from outside Wales to pay a visit, or encouraging business routes which would lead to inward investment and stimulate jobs - if the Welsh Assembly felt it was worthwhile spending large amounts of taxpayer funds to nationalise the airport, then this is where the focus should lie. Govt should not be spending tax money on making it easier for the wealthier sections of society to go on holiday abroad !
Right now, Flybe + Eastern have the UK market sewn up nicely - with pretty much zero competition. The only significant continental connection that's useful for business is to Amsterdam.
Yes, the extra few flights per week to Dublin and the 1x weekly Dusseldorf is a start, but it's frankly not a lot.
Reprioritise Cardiff airport from an exporter of tourists to becoming a potential importer of investment / engine for trade and jobs and I'll be much more impressed.
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davidjohnson,
I can see how it frustrates you and many others but if you look at the history of Cardiff Airport you will see that the number of leisure passengers and outbound tourism far outweighs inbound business travellers and tourism.
The lack of business routes outside of the UK & Ireland and of course Holland isn't a huge surprise considering the dire straits of the South Wales economy.
As for inbound tourism then first of all the Welsh Government needs to look at selling Wales to the world. As for tourism routes then Cardiff Airport are working on these with the introduction of the Dusseldorf during the summer and also the Prima Reisen charters bringing inbound Austrian tourists which will hopefully expand pending loads.
You would also be surprised at how many jobs are linked to people leaving Wales and going on holidays abroad. How many staff have lost their jobs at the airport alone since the decrease in the number of Welsh people going on holidays? How many people are employed in the travel trade booking holidays abroad for people?
More airlines will be interested in Cardiff Airport the busier it gets and at the end of the day it's the case of taking people to where they want to go and most people want to go on holidays to the sun.
It is also the airlines who select where they want to go. The airport can only try and encourage them to fly from Cardiff Airport. Now if the airlines don't want to fly from Cardiff then there is nothing the airport can do.
I can see how it frustrates you and many others but if you look at the history of Cardiff Airport you will see that the number of leisure passengers and outbound tourism far outweighs inbound business travellers and tourism.
The lack of business routes outside of the UK & Ireland and of course Holland isn't a huge surprise considering the dire straits of the South Wales economy.
As for inbound tourism then first of all the Welsh Government needs to look at selling Wales to the world. As for tourism routes then Cardiff Airport are working on these with the introduction of the Dusseldorf during the summer and also the Prima Reisen charters bringing inbound Austrian tourists which will hopefully expand pending loads.
You would also be surprised at how many jobs are linked to people leaving Wales and going on holidays abroad. How many staff have lost their jobs at the airport alone since the decrease in the number of Welsh people going on holidays? How many people are employed in the travel trade booking holidays abroad for people?
More airlines will be interested in Cardiff Airport the busier it gets and at the end of the day it's the case of taking people to where they want to go and most people want to go on holidays to the sun.
It is also the airlines who select where they want to go. The airport can only try and encourage them to fly from Cardiff Airport. Now if the airlines don't want to fly from Cardiff then there is nothing the airport can do.
Last edited by mathers_wales_uk; 16th Jul 2013 at 19:00.
DJ's points are absolutely right.
If I were a Welsh taxpayer, I would be very concerned at my hard-earned cash going to support a holiday getaway enterprise. That would be like subsidizing tour operators! Yes, a few jobs are maintained through outbound tourism, but allowing our countrymen to spend their cash abroad can't ever be a governmental priority.
The real prize, and the only possible reason for public investment in an airport, is to positively enhance the economy through inbound tourism and foreign inward investment.
If I were a Welsh taxpayer, I would be very concerned at my hard-earned cash going to support a holiday getaway enterprise. That would be like subsidizing tour operators! Yes, a few jobs are maintained through outbound tourism, but allowing our countrymen to spend their cash abroad can't ever be a governmental priority.
The real prize, and the only possible reason for public investment in an airport, is to positively enhance the economy through inbound tourism and foreign inward investment.
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no doubt Foggy will darken the mood again
I'm sorry, but not that sorry, if some people prefer to live their dreams rather than listen to the truth, mathers stated, supposedly, 10 positives for the year but:
Vueling increase capacity by over 80% for Summer 2013
Vueling add additional route to Malaga for Summer 2013
Vueling to offer year round services to Malaga & Alicante for Winter 2013
Vueling add additional route to Malaga for Summer 2013
Vueling to offer year round services to Malaga & Alicante for Winter 2013
Thomson Airways 3 additional weekly flights during peak Summer 2013
Air Europa to operate weekly Palma flights on behalf of Thomson Airways Summer 2013
Thomson Airways capacity increased by 17% for Winter 2013
Air Europa to operate weekly Palma flights on behalf of Thomson Airways Summer 2013
Thomson Airways capacity increased by 17% for Winter 2013
Aer Lingus increased to up to 3 x daily for Summer 2013
Aer Lingus increased to up to 3 x daily for Winter 2013
Aer Lingus increased to up to 3 x daily for Winter 2013
DJ & LGS make the points regarding the outgoing, rather than incoming, tourism and the bucket loads of taxpayers money being thrown in the direction of Cardiff and Angelsey Airports.
The City of Cardiff is a business destination primarily, yes such sites as Cardiff Castle are very much worth a visit, but tourists can't stretch a one or two week holiday to Cardiff alone.
West of CWL there is the lovely Gower Peninsula and heading more in to west Wales the real holiday destinations begin but CWL in no good for these, Swansea Airport, they're even developing a West Wales Airport at Aberporth, want to visit or holiday in/around Snowdonia National Park then CWL serves about as much purpose as a chocolate tea pot.
CWL might like to consider itself the "Gateway to Wales" and were Wales an island then it probably would be but for the touristic/holiday destinations then it's in the wrong location.
And before I may again get flamed for "darkening" merely for speaking the truth tourism is down in my locality also, I was at our island airport twice these past days picking-up then dropping-off guests of my resort, it's pitiful the amount of tourists there are here recently, come later in September and thru until 2014 we'll be busier than hell but for the time being I shouldn't live a dream, I should realise the hard facts and tighten the purse strings just a little accordingly.