I think most airlines and airports were expecting numbers to recover to 2019 levels by the mid-2020s. It does seem that this might happen faster though. Quite possibly by 2023 in many cases.
In Cardiff's case, it is highly dependent on Wizz and if they can make a success of the base there.
There's a big local media push by Wizz again just as flights launch. This was in the Western Mail today -
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...wants-23619169
The boss of low-cost carrier Wizz Air UK says there is potential to bring more routes to Cardiff Airport as it launches a new base with nine destinations.
Managing director of the fast-expanding airline, Marion Geoffroy, said bookings for its inaugural summer season, which commences tomorrow from the Rhoose-based airport with flights to to Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Egypt, were encouraging.
Asked if there was potential for Wizz Air to expand in the future, Ms Geoffroy said: “When we open a base we believe it is a permanent one which is going to grow as well. From Cardiff it is a full leisure type of traffic today serving places such as Greece, Egypt, Spain and the Canary Islands.
"We have also designed a winter network and a commercial plan to some winter sun destinations. As there is more maturity in this market, we don’t exclude starting at some point some central and eastern European routes as we believe demand is there and awareness too.