Originally Posted by
vectisman
What all of you ranting above seem to forget is that airlines will maintain services from an airport if it is financially viable to do so. Clearly airlines have decided that there is more money to be made elsewhere. Changing the management and stamping your feet will not change this simple truth.
In the summer leisure travel makes money for some operators less so in the winter. Domestic flying from most smaller airports is at best marginally profitable and at Cardiff less so.
You can all have wish lists as long as your arms and look for scapegoats, but that will not change the economic reality.
But management do set the fees. Let's compare to Bristol:
Cardiff
Landing fee between 25-200 tonnes = £23.50 per tonne
Passenger load charge = £17.50 per passenger
Bristol
Fee over 3 tonnes = £16.90 per tonne
Passenger load charge = £16.35 per passenger
Then there are other fees, of which Bristol is cheaper. Bristol is cheaper to operate from.
Of course airlines maintain flights if it is financial viable. Airport charges are a part of that. Do you really support Cardiff Airport making itself uncompetitive? You are blind to the failings of management if you do not recognise overcharging compared to your biggest competitor is folly. Cardiff Airport should be undercharging.