Cardiff Happenings
Brunel to Concorde
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Virtute et Industria, et Sumorsaete Ealle
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WindSheer
As a pax I take a different view to the football supporter type of rhetoric some trot out in support of 'their' airport, and I don't mean you. But if you go to some threads re other UK airports you would be forgiven for thinking that airports are supported as passionately as the local football team.
I look upon airports as a facility for the public, a means of employment for many and an engine/mirror of the local economy or economies.
If I want to fly somewhere I will probably go to the nearest airport if the flight, price and timings are suitable. If not, I will look somewhere else and whether it is in Wales, the Midlands or London is of secondary importance to me.
Living in the Bristol/Cardiff region gives a passenger quite a choice. Apart from the airports serving these cities there are also BHX and LHR plus, especially for Bristol area people, EXT and even SOU.
My son often uses BHX for business, even though he lives in Bristol (he also flies frequently from there), because even though a flight to the detination he wants might be available from BRS the flight times can sometimes be inconvenient for him.
My Bristol neighbours regularly take their main summer holiday in the Spanish Costas but for the last four years have used CWL because the day/flight time suits them better than the one/s from BRS.
That is why I contend that as a customer I regard the Severnside airports (and beyond) as a complementary pool, and I am ready to take advantage of what suits me best on a particular occasion. Might that not also be the case with some Welsh travellers using BRS?
Finally, I'm sure you can answer this. How many stands has CWL currently got and how many could realistically be provided in the future? Thanks in advance for answer.
As a pax I take a different view to the football supporter type of rhetoric some trot out in support of 'their' airport, and I don't mean you. But if you go to some threads re other UK airports you would be forgiven for thinking that airports are supported as passionately as the local football team.
I look upon airports as a facility for the public, a means of employment for many and an engine/mirror of the local economy or economies.
If I want to fly somewhere I will probably go to the nearest airport if the flight, price and timings are suitable. If not, I will look somewhere else and whether it is in Wales, the Midlands or London is of secondary importance to me.
Living in the Bristol/Cardiff region gives a passenger quite a choice. Apart from the airports serving these cities there are also BHX and LHR plus, especially for Bristol area people, EXT and even SOU.
My son often uses BHX for business, even though he lives in Bristol (he also flies frequently from there), because even though a flight to the detination he wants might be available from BRS the flight times can sometimes be inconvenient for him.
My Bristol neighbours regularly take their main summer holiday in the Spanish Costas but for the last four years have used CWL because the day/flight time suits them better than the one/s from BRS.
That is why I contend that as a customer I regard the Severnside airports (and beyond) as a complementary pool, and I am ready to take advantage of what suits me best on a particular occasion. Might that not also be the case with some Welsh travellers using BRS?
Finally, I'm sure you can answer this. How many stands has CWL currently got and how many could realistically be provided in the future? Thanks in advance for answer.
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Currently we have 10 dedicated stands plus Stand 1 where we are able to park several aircraft on at a time, three stands have air bridges. Additional parking space is available on taxiway E.
The new layout will allow for 6 more dedicated nose in stands, however the sky really is the limit for potential stands as i have previously mentioned. We have vast areas of grass which could be concreted over and made into stands plus the disused runway currently used as taxiways and additional parking during events.
MerchantVenturer I agree with you about the complimentary airports, if we can't get a flight from Cardiff then we tend to look to Bristol first. There is no doubt though that everyone would prefer to fly from the airport most local to them. For me to fly from Cardiff means a 20 minute Journey, to fly from Bristol about a 90 minute journey.
The new layout will allow for 6 more dedicated nose in stands, however the sky really is the limit for potential stands as i have previously mentioned. We have vast areas of grass which could be concreted over and made into stands plus the disused runway currently used as taxiways and additional parking during events.
MerchantVenturer I agree with you about the complimentary airports, if we can't get a flight from Cardiff then we tend to look to Bristol first. There is no doubt though that everyone would prefer to fly from the airport most local to them. For me to fly from Cardiff means a 20 minute Journey, to fly from Bristol about a 90 minute journey.
Look its not hard. BRS sits in an area of significantly higher GDP then CWL. It therefore supports a significantly higher flying programme. Nothing to do with the terminal, the runway, the operators, the car parks or the national soil.
Cardiff is further hampered by the interference of the Welsh Assembly and their tax supported ilk who continue to dabble in economic affairs. They perverted reality to get the likes of the massive Sony and LG investments in South Wales which are now closed/closing. So they pervert the natural order by subsidising certain airlines and routes out of CWL which should never have been and never will flourish.
Thatcherism works. Nobody 'funded' Go/easyJet moving into BRS other than the banks and management. Here it is 4 years later as a runaway success.
Just shows.
Cheers
WWW
Cardiff is further hampered by the interference of the Welsh Assembly and their tax supported ilk who continue to dabble in economic affairs. They perverted reality to get the likes of the massive Sony and LG investments in South Wales which are now closed/closing. So they pervert the natural order by subsidising certain airlines and routes out of CWL which should never have been and never will flourish.
Thatcherism works. Nobody 'funded' Go/easyJet moving into BRS other than the banks and management. Here it is 4 years later as a runaway success.
Just shows.
Cheers
WWW
Join Date: Sep 2002
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they pervert the natural order by subsidising certain airlines and routes out of CWL which should never have been and never will flourish.
There is talk about the WAG funding a North South Wales service which has been utterly dismissed by people around here.
Join Date: Mar 2005
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There are too many groups with a hand in the pot in Wales.
You have Britsih Government, Welsh Assembly, Welsh Development Agency & then City Council/County Councils. No one can get things done because they all want their say before anything gets done!
I believe that Baby do have some incentive from either the Assembly or WDA to run some of their routes.
You have Britsih Government, Welsh Assembly, Welsh Development Agency & then City Council/County Councils. No one can get things done because they all want their say before anything gets done!
I believe that Baby do have some incentive from either the Assembly or WDA to run some of their routes.
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Checked this out from the WAG ;
I have also checked to see if any other airlines were paid subsidies under their public accounting and found nothing.
Andrew Davies: The main role of the Welsh Assembly Government and its agencies is to support TBI plc and Cardiff International Airport in making the case for Bmibaby to locate in Wales. The only financial assistance offered to the airline was for training, as allowed under European Commission and state aid rules.
The Wales Tourist Board will have an additional £841,000 for marketing initiatives to capitalise on new Bmibaby routes during 2002-04. This includes funding for the livery of one of Bmibaby’s Boeing 737s to promote the branding of Wales by carrying the Wales World Nation logo and the Wales Tourist Board’s web site address. That deal was secured on a purely commercial basis. There is no subsidy, underwriting or plan to recoup passenger revenues for this Bmibaby operation in Wales.
The Wales Tourist Board will have an additional £841,000 for marketing initiatives to capitalise on new Bmibaby routes during 2002-04. This includes funding for the livery of one of Bmibaby’s Boeing 737s to promote the branding of Wales by carrying the Wales World Nation logo and the Wales Tourist Board’s web site address. That deal was secured on a purely commercial basis. There is no subsidy, underwriting or plan to recoup passenger revenues for this Bmibaby operation in Wales.
Join Date: May 2004
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The plans i`ve heard are that the domestic pier will come down to make room for a/c parking,grass between std 1 and echo will will not be completely concreted (about 20m will be used).The front of the terminal front will be extended out to be level with arrivals entrance(reasonable distance) the info desk will be moved down stairs and massive upstairs toilets will be scaled down to make more room.There were/are plans for a joint "emergancy response centre" for the police who will be relocated from the old pier and the AFRS who need a new station!A walkway of some sorts will also have to be created for pax to move between departure lounge and new parking area,this will be linked in with the bottom of international pier`s lower section being gutted out so this part will be open for pax to dep/arrive from.BUT this has not been approved!down to funding the money i guess.fingers crossed
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Yes I had also heard about the partial concreting of the grass area Piper Tommy, I have also heard that access to the new stands for pax may be via a new route past Burger King , however i would have thought a ground level covered walkway would make more sense as you say.
TBI are spending a lot of money at the moment on the place and new elevators have been going in over the summer.
Are there plans for a new Fire Station ? would make sense after the money they spent on you these last couple of years
TBI are spending a lot of money at the moment on the place and new elevators have been going in over the summer.
Are there plans for a new Fire Station ? would make sense after the money they spent on you these last couple of years
Join Date: Oct 2004
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Evening gents.
Are they really going to extend the front of the terminal outwards??
I assume it would start from the side of the new lifts, otherwise what a waste of money! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
I was talking to a couple of pilots last year re: CAT111 at CWL, their opinion was that they could not go for it because of the high ground to the NW. Sounds nonsense to me?
Runway lighting is never CAT111 standard on any runway until until you decide to get it installed. BRS is a good example with CAT111 on the one runway only. The lighting is different both ends, as CAT111 standard lighting on 09 would be a waste of dollar!
Anyway, I think they should build one huge airport in the severn - Hong Kong style! Put welsh and english staff in there to run the thing!
Are they really going to extend the front of the terminal outwards??
I assume it would start from the side of the new lifts, otherwise what a waste of money! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
I was talking to a couple of pilots last year re: CAT111 at CWL, their opinion was that they could not go for it because of the high ground to the NW. Sounds nonsense to me?
Runway lighting is never CAT111 standard on any runway until until you decide to get it installed. BRS is a good example with CAT111 on the one runway only. The lighting is different both ends, as CAT111 standard lighting on 09 would be a waste of dollar!
Anyway, I think they should build one huge airport in the severn - Hong Kong style! Put welsh and english staff in there to run the thing!
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Morning everyone,
I have to be honest, I find Cardiff's terminal quite pleasant. Granted, it needs a bit of a refurbishment here and there and in fairness the owners are doing a good job with the refurbishment.
The arrivals looks much better than it used to. What the terminal needs is a better departure lounge with a wider selection of shops and seating areas. The area by the KLM Lounge could do with a bit more there. Why not place 2/3 retail units there. For example; A boot's style store, clothing shop and maybe a fast food unit such as Mc Donalds.
I believe that they must also replace the horrible wood and metal paneling with glass or other see through material to give the passengers a view of the runway and the aircraft. Why not re-open the viewing area? I am sure that they could place one or two security personell there or maybe an armed police man or two.
As for the new routes...
I believe that the Zoom service to Toronto will continue to do well and I believe the new Vancouver route will do just as well and possibly allow further expansion of routes to Canada from CWL.
Excel Airways is bound to have a major impact on pax figures for CWL and also provide passengers with an alternative to BMIbaby and also a wider range of destinations.
The new Thomson routes should go down well... they normally do! However, I think CWL could do with a service to the USA. I guess that is out of the question for now with CO at BRS.
Is there any news on the EK rumor? I know that Air Wales are looking at re-operating BRU and opening another destination. By the way the routes Air Wales operate on behalf of BMIbaby are now on Air Wales' booking system.
Regards,
Chris
I have to be honest, I find Cardiff's terminal quite pleasant. Granted, it needs a bit of a refurbishment here and there and in fairness the owners are doing a good job with the refurbishment.
The arrivals looks much better than it used to. What the terminal needs is a better departure lounge with a wider selection of shops and seating areas. The area by the KLM Lounge could do with a bit more there. Why not place 2/3 retail units there. For example; A boot's style store, clothing shop and maybe a fast food unit such as Mc Donalds.
I believe that they must also replace the horrible wood and metal paneling with glass or other see through material to give the passengers a view of the runway and the aircraft. Why not re-open the viewing area? I am sure that they could place one or two security personell there or maybe an armed police man or two.
As for the new routes...
I believe that the Zoom service to Toronto will continue to do well and I believe the new Vancouver route will do just as well and possibly allow further expansion of routes to Canada from CWL.
Excel Airways is bound to have a major impact on pax figures for CWL and also provide passengers with an alternative to BMIbaby and also a wider range of destinations.
The new Thomson routes should go down well... they normally do! However, I think CWL could do with a service to the USA. I guess that is out of the question for now with CO at BRS.
Is there any news on the EK rumor? I know that Air Wales are looking at re-operating BRU and opening another destination. By the way the routes Air Wales operate on behalf of BMIbaby are now on Air Wales' booking system.
Regards,
Chris
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Why not re-open the viewing area? I am sure that they could place one or two security personell there or maybe an armed police man or two.
Not withstanding any security directives currently in place, could the cost be justified ?
Join Date: Sep 2002
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They use the third floor now for a myriad of different uses so I am not even sure if there is easy access to the old viewing area. It is a shame it closed, I always thought the airport could have made more money by placing a coffee shop up there, especially in the summer it always used to be packed.
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I believe that CAT3 ps are out of the question due to the severe inclines at both ends of the runway. Just like 09 at BRS. Don't want to "terrain terrain pull up" on the approach!
Can't see the Airport stumping up any additional costs to open the viewing gallery.
Can't see the Airport stumping up any additional costs to open the viewing gallery.
Join Date: May 2004
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They do have plans for a new fire station but can`t see it happening in the near future(year or two),money could be spent on the terminal side rather than non productive investment`s.Which i guess i fair enough if it means a busier airport
Scourge of Bad Airline Management!
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By the way the routes Air Wales operate on behalf of BMIbaby are now on Air Wales' booking system.
Actually allowing 6G to sell WW inventory is not as easy as you'd think, either technically (they'll need to spend some quite serious money to do it properly) or commercially (how do you lock inventory in a live environment? How do you ensure that one site won't cannibalise yield? Why would WW want to do this when their web traffic is MASSIVELY higher than 6G's, and allowing 6G to sell - as a puppet operation, since they should not be allowed to set their own fares - would add very little if anything to the sales channel)?
I think this is a case of 6G wishful thinking.... was certainly not part of the thinking behind the agreement, I can tell you.
TA smells bulls**t and a shambles coming up....