CARDIFF - 3
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Hi all,
This is my first posting on this site having just registered, and I would just like to say that I am a huge supporter of Cardiff Airport, and would really like it to be successful. We do need to see new airlines and new routes being developed from Cardiff, however, with so much opportunity for new destinations, why does Fly be want to serve a city (Belfast) that is already well served by BMI BABY?. They would be far more successful in developing a new route like Paris. Likewise, why did BMI BABY enter the Amsterdam route as that is already well served by KLM?.
Finally for now, congratulations to all the staff at Cardiff for all their hard work in coping with the extra workload of the last few days, due to the problems over at Bristol. Well done.
This is my first posting on this site having just registered, and I would just like to say that I am a huge supporter of Cardiff Airport, and would really like it to be successful. We do need to see new airlines and new routes being developed from Cardiff, however, with so much opportunity for new destinations, why does Fly be want to serve a city (Belfast) that is already well served by BMI BABY?. They would be far more successful in developing a new route like Paris. Likewise, why did BMI BABY enter the Amsterdam route as that is already well served by KLM?.
Finally for now, congratulations to all the staff at Cardiff for all their hard work in coping with the extra workload of the last few days, due to the problems over at Bristol. Well done.
Scourge of Bad Airline Management!
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Can somebody please explain to me this fascination with a route from Cardiff to New York?? If Cardiff is to get longhaul, the Middle East would be a far better bet I would have thought....
Re flybe - the reason they are doing BHD we covered in depth earlier - they are testing the water for the forthcoming bunfight with baby at BHX....
KLM and baby? Easy one - KLM don't really fly people to AMS - they fly people via AMS to somewhere else in the main. Baby fly people to AMS, since they have no interline agreements.
Re flybe - the reason they are doing BHD we covered in depth earlier - they are testing the water for the forthcoming bunfight with baby at BHX....
KLM and baby? Easy one - KLM don't really fly people to AMS - they fly people via AMS to somewhere else in the main. Baby fly people to AMS, since they have no interline agreements.
Last edited by TwinAisle; 8th Jan 2007 at 12:34.
Join Date: May 2004
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Got to say,working the last couple of days how impressed i was with Cardiff
taking all things in to consideration it was on the surface a success
No doubt there was the odd hick-up,but think on it as a good bit of training(busy ops with fast turn arounds) for the airport as a whole.well done.Shame the ghost town will be back soon
taking all things in to consideration it was on the surface a success No doubt there was the odd hick-up,but think on it as a good bit of training(busy ops with fast turn arounds) for the airport as a whole.well done.Shame the ghost town will be back soon
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Watching the BRS fiasco from afar the thing that made me laugh / cry was the interviews with the passengers. Nearly all the ones I saw were complaining (in a strong Welsh accent) that they had driven to BRS from south wales and now had to be bused back again. Nearly all were quoted as flying to destinations served from CWL, which begs the obvious question !!!! I know it is a busy time of year but it was an interesting indication of the problem CWL based airlines have with people's perception that EasyJet are at BRS and that is the cheapest way to do anything.
Holidaying in sunny south wales over Christmas had several interesting discussions with people who insisted they went EasyJet from BRS instead of Baby from Cardiff because they were always a few quid cheaper ! They didn't seem to have an answer to "well how much does it cost to drive to and park at BRS then?". Quality thinking. "Hey if we spend a couple of hudred quid more we can save a fiver!"
That's CWL's and all the airlines problem. For example I asked someone why they went to DUB from BRS. The answer was because Ryanair don't fly from Cardiff anymore. These are ordinary, actually reasonably intelligent, people living around Cardiff. This is why BRS is taking so much business from South Wales EasyJet and Ryaniar are perceived to be cheaper than Baby and the nieche operators at CWL. I'll try and remember that when I use my £5 baby ticket to Alicante next week !
Holidaying in sunny south wales over Christmas had several interesting discussions with people who insisted they went EasyJet from BRS instead of Baby from Cardiff because they were always a few quid cheaper ! They didn't seem to have an answer to "well how much does it cost to drive to and park at BRS then?". Quality thinking. "Hey if we spend a couple of hudred quid more we can save a fiver!"
That's CWL's and all the airlines problem. For example I asked someone why they went to DUB from BRS. The answer was because Ryanair don't fly from Cardiff anymore. These are ordinary, actually reasonably intelligent, people living around Cardiff. This is why BRS is taking so much business from South Wales EasyJet and Ryaniar are perceived to be cheaper than Baby and the nieche operators at CWL. I'll try and remember that when I use my £5 baby ticket to Alicante next week !
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Yes Cheeky Visual ,
so much for the argument always thrown back at us about no one in Wales flies or the catchment area isn't big enough. Loads and loads of Welsh accents there on all the news reports, very disappointing that they go to Bristol not Cardiff but as so often is the case you can't get the flights from Cardiff or EasyJet is just so cheap in comparison.
I've just had a phone call from a friend in the North East wanting to fly down here asking me if I knew of any other operator other than Eastern flying into Cardiff , they don't want to pay Easterns prices so they think they will fly into Bristol instead at a much lower cost and take the hit on the extra time involved, all a crying shame.
so much for the argument always thrown back at us about no one in Wales flies or the catchment area isn't big enough. Loads and loads of Welsh accents there on all the news reports, very disappointing that they go to Bristol not Cardiff but as so often is the case you can't get the flights from Cardiff or EasyJet is just so cheap in comparison.
I've just had a phone call from a friend in the North East wanting to fly down here asking me if I knew of any other operator other than Eastern flying into Cardiff , they don't want to pay Easterns prices so they think they will fly into Bristol instead at a much lower cost and take the hit on the extra time involved, all a crying shame.
Join Date: Nov 2005
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John Horne was on BBC Wales this afternoon. Short but funny interview as he seemed very smug about how well its all gone (Which it has - well done to all staff involved!) and even more smuggly being asked how well CWL has capitalised on the situation both financially and by using this to attract other airlines, but avoiding giving a direct answer to the reporter on the subject, and sending his deepest sympathy to BRS for their unfortunate situation they've had to deal with! 
Its nice to see that after the bashing CWL got for the recent fog delays, that they rose to the occasion in order to help BRS out as much as possible, as BRS did a few weeks ago for CWL.
Lucky its winter season, and shame there wasnt more stands to park planes though!!!!!!
Its nice to see that after the bashing CWL got for the recent fog delays, that they rose to the occasion in order to help BRS out as much as possible, as BRS did a few weeks ago for CWL.
Lucky its winter season, and shame there wasnt more stands to park planes though!!!!!!
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I must agree whith you there. John Horne has had a lot to be smug about this week, 2,000,000 PAX (though please see my post above) Now the BRS fiasco as Incompetant BRS unable to competentley resurface a runway, while wonderful CWL manges to handle 3 times its usual traffic. But will it win the day?
Join Date: Oct 2006
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I've always been obvious that alot more Welsh pax fly from BRS than the airports official masterplan suggests (10%). Some figures in the echo a while back stated that its nearer 25-30%. There was a family on the news who were from Bridgend and they were moaning about why they couldn't just check in straight away at CWL for Majorca, despite the fact that if they had looked in the first place they could have gone with baby and thomsonfly! Regarding DUB though it is actually worth going over to BRS with FR because sometimes the prices are just too high with Aer Arann!
It is quite silly really for people to be using easyjet for places like EDI, GLA because baby are cheaper in my experience on the domestic routes by some margin. The airport really needs to start marketing itself better or perhaps baby should actually advertise its routes more, because frankly over the last year I've seen more easy adverts in Cardiff than ones for baby!
It is quite silly really for people to be using easyjet for places like EDI, GLA because baby are cheaper in my experience on the domestic routes by some margin. The airport really needs to start marketing itself better or perhaps baby should actually advertise its routes more, because frankly over the last year I've seen more easy adverts in Cardiff than ones for baby!
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Right a1234 I have in 06, can honestly say outside the airport I have seen, no, zero, 0, zilch baby adverts on billboards or in the papers. While about 15/20 adverts, all bar one, dare I say, a baby destination (the other being Croatia). I could go down the road in two minutes and see a EZY billboard. Right next to a Zoom one. Yet I have also seen EZY adverts in the Western Mail, Wales on Sunday. baby mind sponsers the ITV weather, and thats about it. Considering I watch the BBC news I dont really see them. I have also seen baby being cheaper than EZY on domestics and with BE this year Belfast prices are going to drop. While what they should do is have higher fares domesticaly and lower on internationals. As people are willing to travel to BRS for the likes of AGP, PMI and ALC, but BIZ PAX will want to fly from nearer to their homes. Well thats my opinion anyway
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I'm still annoyed that bmi don't fly to Paris any more. Maybe I'm one of the few people on the planet who prefer Air Chance to KLM (now that KLM and Air Chance are supposedly as one and I see KLM as the loser, from a customer point of view). I now have to travel to Paris via Amsterdam. If that were unavailable I'd actually go to Heathrow rather than put up with the journey to Bristol airport. However, it's about time that there was a decent direct link from the M4 to CWL rather than enduring the 'death of a thousand roundabouts, on the present route 
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There are an awful lot of buses round here painted up in baby colours. Maybe the locals can't read a moving target?
True that a lot of PAX at BRS had Welsh and one moaning about going from Swansea to BRS to CWL, to go to AGP. Please, one of the most frequently flown routes from CWL, baby daily, TOM 5x weekly, never mind FCA and co in the winter. Fly from CWL PAX!
Smile!!!
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Don't forget Cardiff has a rail link as well, so "death by roundabouts" isn't the only way!
The service ain't super-posh, but it's regular and does the job. I would guess that there would need to be more regular scheduled demand at the airport before anyone will start considering a direct shuttle train that doesn't stop at every single station on the way.
I don't think that time-wise, the transport links take any longer than many other major international airports, it's just that the road system in the Vale is pretty (totally?) hopeless. The "magical mystery tour" that is the recommended car / coachlink to Bristol is just as bad to be honest.
Daniel
P.S. It would be a shame to see five mile lane turned into a safe, straight, wide truck route- I also know that the wealthy and influential residents of St Nicholas are also pretty anti-trunking.
The service ain't super-posh, but it's regular and does the job. I would guess that there would need to be more regular scheduled demand at the airport before anyone will start considering a direct shuttle train that doesn't stop at every single station on the way.
I don't think that time-wise, the transport links take any longer than many other major international airports, it's just that the road system in the Vale is pretty (totally?) hopeless. The "magical mystery tour" that is the recommended car / coachlink to Bristol is just as bad to be honest.
Daniel
P.S. It would be a shame to see five mile lane turned into a safe, straight, wide truck route- I also know that the wealthy and influential residents of St Nicholas are also pretty anti-trunking.
Brunel to Concorde
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Boys and Girls, it isn't all a one-way thing.
I live in the south-east of Bristol an area that is probably the most onerous Bristol district to reach CWL from by road - it means driving right across or almost right around the city. And yet a neighbour always uses CWL to fly to AGP on holiday. Neither he nor his wife are Welsh (so no loyalty thing) but he did it once and has got into the habit. They live fifteen minutes by road from BRS.
I know and know of a lot of other people in the area who also use CWL at times.
BTW, quite a lot of people with Welsh accents live in the Bristol area so some of those BRS pax you hear from time to time might not have come across the bridge to fly at all.
Flybe seem good at advertising when they set up at a new airport. Two or three years ago every Bristol bus seemed to be bearing Flybe or easyJet adverts. Flybe also sponsors the Bristol-based ITV West local weather report - a bit odd considering they seem to be about to depart from BRS.
Two or three years ago there was also a First Bristol double decker painted completely in Cardiff Airport insignia and routes on service around Bristol.
Furthermore, there is still a perception amongst some in the Bristol area that CWL is a bigger airport (in terms of usage, it is physically of course) with more routes. It probably has its roots in the fact that CWL has been the place to use for Florida, Toronto and the Caribbean.
From this side of the Severn it seems to me that airlines are increasingly realising that CWL is under-served and that with the right product there are opportunities going begging.
I live in the south-east of Bristol an area that is probably the most onerous Bristol district to reach CWL from by road - it means driving right across or almost right around the city. And yet a neighbour always uses CWL to fly to AGP on holiday. Neither he nor his wife are Welsh (so no loyalty thing) but he did it once and has got into the habit. They live fifteen minutes by road from BRS.
I know and know of a lot of other people in the area who also use CWL at times.
BTW, quite a lot of people with Welsh accents live in the Bristol area so some of those BRS pax you hear from time to time might not have come across the bridge to fly at all.
Flybe seem good at advertising when they set up at a new airport. Two or three years ago every Bristol bus seemed to be bearing Flybe or easyJet adverts. Flybe also sponsors the Bristol-based ITV West local weather report - a bit odd considering they seem to be about to depart from BRS.
Two or three years ago there was also a First Bristol double decker painted completely in Cardiff Airport insignia and routes on service around Bristol.
Furthermore, there is still a perception amongst some in the Bristol area that CWL is a bigger airport (in terms of usage, it is physically of course) with more routes. It probably has its roots in the fact that CWL has been the place to use for Florida, Toronto and the Caribbean.
From this side of the Severn it seems to me that airlines are increasingly realising that CWL is under-served and that with the right product there are opportunities going begging.
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Why is GLA down to just one a day from March?! What a joke there will be four daily Belfast flights from May but just one for glasgow?!
How will this support business pax the only option will be to use BRS as always.
How will this support business pax the only option will be to use BRS as always.
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To be fair to ww, they announced Glasgow to go to 1xdaily and BFS to 2xdaily before BE announced BHD. It is quite possible BE may go to Glasgow before 07 is out, if they expand their 'base' at CWL, BRS a two hour drive from Cardiff at rush hours? Think not.
MV I didnt realise that CWL had such a large user base near BRS, the L/H routes from CWL must certinaley be helping the image of CWL, so the runway issue at BRS. I do think though that some people think that BRS is a much smaller airport than it actually is, I know my freind though it was, when he couldnt get a flight to go to Barcelona insted of oging to BRS, he went to MAN, as it isnt served from CWL (but in the summer TOM will start a 4 weekly service from CWL year round!). Good work too all CWL airport staff who did well in the recent situation!
MV I didnt realise that CWL had such a large user base near BRS, the L/H routes from CWL must certinaley be helping the image of CWL, so the runway issue at BRS. I do think though that some people think that BRS is a much smaller airport than it actually is, I know my freind though it was, when he couldnt get a flight to go to Barcelona insted of oging to BRS, he went to MAN, as it isnt served from CWL (but in the summer TOM will start a 4 weekly service from CWL year round!). Good work too all CWL airport staff who did well in the recent situation!
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I heard from someone that Baby have not been able to recover the loads on the GLA that were lost when Air Wales moved the route from GLA to PIK. A lot of loyal pax switched to BRS and have not returned. EDI has always been the stronger route. and if they have to make the same resources do more destinations some regularity has to give. There definately isn't the business on BFS/BHD for 4 flights a day. Having operated the route there is barely enough for one ! Something is going to have to give. If Baby give Fly Be will move hard on the domestic routes at CWL and BHX against Baby especially as they seem to be giving EASY and Ryanair a very wide berth at BRS and EMA.
That of course is if Fly Be have any pilots to fly them or trainers to train the pilots ! All of BACON and large percentage of Fly Be looking to get out.
Baby would like to expand CWL, EMA and BHX. However, there is a massive lack of 733s and 735s in the market. There are no 73NGs available unless you are Ryanair, Air Berlin or Southwest. Baby have to make a decission about where the ONE aircraft they have got can make the most difference. CWL to defend against Fly Be and TOM, BHX to actively fight Fly Be, or EMA to defend against Ryanair. If they could get another two CWL would definately get another aircraft and with Ryanair expanding from 3 a/c to 10 a/c at EMA this year my money is on it going there. Unfortunately ! Personally I would put in CWL (but I'm biased) you can't fight Ryanair and you're mad to try !
Still keeping my fingers crossed for CWL though !
That of course is if Fly Be have any pilots to fly them or trainers to train the pilots ! All of BACON and large percentage of Fly Be looking to get out.
Baby would like to expand CWL, EMA and BHX. However, there is a massive lack of 733s and 735s in the market. There are no 73NGs available unless you are Ryanair, Air Berlin or Southwest. Baby have to make a decission about where the ONE aircraft they have got can make the most difference. CWL to defend against Fly Be and TOM, BHX to actively fight Fly Be, or EMA to defend against Ryanair. If they could get another two CWL would definately get another aircraft and with Ryanair expanding from 3 a/c to 10 a/c at EMA this year my money is on it going there. Unfortunately ! Personally I would put in CWL (but I'm biased) you can't fight Ryanair and you're mad to try !
Still keeping my fingers crossed for CWL though !
Join Date: Oct 2006
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The downgrading of GLA is such a dissapointment though because this is the second most popular domestic route and has always been popular whenever I have flown. Lets just hope Flybe will take this route on because it would be worthwile and they could probably provide more frequencies.
I suspect that the route will lose even more pax now to BRS, its not very good for business pax because 1 a day is just not good enough.
Any news of Flybe announcing their merged network later in the month? Is it likely they will publish any more routes for CWL because Paris and Nice were rumoured last month.
I suspect that the route will lose even more pax now to BRS, its not very good for business pax because 1 a day is just not good enough.
Any news of Flybe announcing their merged network later in the month? Is it likely they will publish any more routes for CWL because Paris and Nice were rumoured last month.
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Cheeky Visual
Just for info Air Wales did not move the route,BMI baby switched it from GLA to PIK in late July 03 and Air Wales started operating on Babys behalf on the 28th March 04
Just for info Air Wales did not move the route,BMI baby switched it from GLA to PIK in late July 03 and Air Wales started operating on Babys behalf on the 28th March 04