Originally Posted by
PDXCWL45
Flybe have said they are looking at a 4th based aircraft for 2019 and the agreement was for 2. They must be happy and see a future at CWL to publicly say they are thinking of it.
People criticise the Welsh government for incentivising Flybe yet that happens all over the industry in various ways from cheap handling fees, free marketing, to giving certain airlines the best gates, in the end Cardiff needed a based airline to develop a route network and Flybe needed a home for some jets.
Qatar start in 8 days time and I'm sure Mays stats will be interesting to see!
Incentives are part and parcel of all industries, and of course airports are no exception, however if it hadn't been for a political decision many years ago most UK airports would probably still be quasi public owned. Fact is that in both Scotland and Wales the governments have taken steps to wrest control back into public hands, which could, in some cases put some English airports at a disadvantage.
As I suggested, it's not from where the incentive comes or came, it's the commercial decisions that may be made after incentives run out, and that applies to all airports. When the E195s have gone, which won't be that long now, Flybe will be under pressure to put their fleet resources where they make the biggest return and it will be interesting to see where that is, and given the reduction in overall capacity, where the axe will fall - not necessarily at Cardiff, could be anywhere, including their major bases - MAN, BHX and SOU.