It was more than likely that they tried using their bully boy tactics and the airport wasn't having any of it because it would simply not be making any money off the routes. You have to take into consideration that it was when there was only a daily DUB offered by FR.
And before somone says look at what happened they went to BRS and now they have x amount of routes. Trust me a lot of them may not have even worked at CWL.
This is great news for CWL especially as BRS will be losing their daily CDG soon come the summer. If they use the correct aircraft then there is no reason why this cannot work.
A huge well done must go to the team at Cardiff Airport who no doubt have worked their socks off to secure this less than a month after Flybe announcing they will be pulling off the route.