CARDIFF

[Em0866]

You never know what's around the next corner. Am sure that something will come of the consultation they did earlier this year. I think all airports will have less flights this winter, not just singling CWL. I think if the access road was better than going around God knows how many roundabouts or through country lanes, (a direct link to the M4) I think it would be more attractive to airlines to start flights

[planenut321]

In 2006-2007, it flew 150 flights a week over the winter and cut that to 124 last winter. So far, the airline, a subsidiary of British Midland, has announced 19 flights a week for the 2008-2009 season to winter sun and ski destinations.

I think a loss of 131 flights a week is slightly drastic. I am sure flybe will take this oppertunity.

[Facelookbovvered]

Planenut

You might be nuts about planes (whatever they are) but you can't read, baby have yet to release their winter program for domestic and shorthaul services. The routes released so far are only the med routes and theres 19 of them, which is not far short of 3 a day.

Few airlines will be flying around empty or even half empty aircraft this winter

[pipertommy]

The road does need looked at, but when you compare the road to Bristol. I would say Cardiff`s road is`nt that bad? So maybe its back to the way the airport sells itself!! or lack of!!

[flowy50]

flights

look at all the threads on this web page cardiff isnt doing that bad compared to some airports.

[mustrum_ridcully]

cwlflyer - you say "It's a common known fact that passengers travelling on domestic flights, especially business people, will not arrive for their flight more than 2 hours before their scheduled departure time."

Speaking as someone who does fly (too often) on business, I'll agree you don't plan to be at an airport much more than 2hrs before the flight. Sometimes it does happen that you are at an airport maybe 3hrs before a flight because traffic/roadworks weren't as bad as expected or you were using public transport... but yes it is rare.

However, I fear you might only looking at the outward bound journey, as on the return journey you can easily end-up at the airport 3+hrs before a flight. Meeting has finished, but there's not enough time to wander round the city you were just in. Because you know if you do you'll get caught in the rush hour and then you'll have problems. So you decide "ah forget it I'll just go to the airport, grab something to eat and a beer, hey I'm not paying for it as it all goes on expenses". Now when you arrive at the airport the nicest thing possible (for me at least) is to be able to turn-up and go straight to check-in (if you couldn't online) get your boarding pass and then grab a beer and something to eat and chill for a while. As far as I can remember you even can't grab a beer until you get into departures at CWL, so you either hang around downstairs waiting for check-in to open, or go upstairs have a coffee, come back down only to find a queue...

[OliWW]

I think they are mainly talking about winter, as winter is quieter but with the credit crunch will be even quieter so airlines are taking action so they arent operating empty flights but operating full flights when they are operated. I still believe they will have there full 3x B733 back for the summer if not 4x B733 and yes flybe may take this advantage to operate more EDI, GLA routes, but they wont take Spain routes thats for sure.

[Em0866]

bmibaby cut flights from CWL

bmibaby, the biggest low-cost airline flying from Cardiff Airport, has confirmed it will cut flights from the Welsh hub this winter because of soaring oil prices. The airline’s commercial director, Julian Carr, told the Echo newspaper that cutbacks were being made to safeguard the company’s long-term future. A spokesman for Cardiff Airport said officials were working closely with bmibaby as it finalised its winter schedule and would do what they could to help.
Mr Carr said the airline had long- term plans to expand flights and destinations from Cardiff, but that this winter was not the time to be taking risks. He said: ‘It’s about prudent scheduling. We need to be sensible and robust so that we don’t have excessive capacity. Every airline is scaling back over the winter. This is nothing out of the ordinary. In the long term we have strong growth plans. Cardiff is a very strong base for us.’
Mr Carr said most of the cutbacks would be in reductions in the numbers of flights to existing destinations and that they would not be drastic. However, he did not rule out removing routes from Cardiff when the airline announces the second part of its winter schedule in the coming weeks.

[WALES-TAG-TOP]

Question

Will the Red Arrows or Typhoon fighters be visiting CWL this summer for airshows?

[bcn_boy]

Flybe winter timetable

It looks like Flybe has passed up the chance to expand at CWL. It's a shame after the effort the airport put into the 'would if you could' campaign.

[flowy50]

fly be

I think you will see them expand when the summer comes and maybe oil prices drop.they are being cautious and the moment as are alot of airlines.At least they havnt dropped any routes only jersey which is mainly summer.

[mathers_wales_uk]

It makes sence that they haven't jumped in all of a sudden and possibly wait until the summer to launch any new routes.

This is how it looks as far as i can see.

BHD
2 x daily M_WTF__
1 x daily _T___SS

EDI
3 x daily MT_TF__
2 x daily __W____
1 x daily _____SS

NCL
1 x daily MTTFSS
(No flights on Wednesday)

GLA
2 x daily MTWTF
1 x daily _____SS

CDG
2 x daily MTWTF
1 x daily _____SS

The JER has been dropped but suprisingly low loads considering that there were 8 x 733 flights last year. I wonder if it will return next year also.

[JobsaGoodun]

Maybe Flybe will announce more when they know what plans Baby have. I think that everyone is trying to outmanoeuver the other at the moment and just waiting for each other the release their schedules to see how they can change things!

[CheekyVisual]

The fact is that at the moment whether you are baby, fly be, Thomas Cook, Thomson Fly, Easy Jet, Ryan Air or even BA you are just trying to work out what you can do to still be in business in two years time. I think that is the minimum before we are likely to see any up turn and if oil keeps moving up and the banks get even tighter it could be even longer. UK economy is being held up by property and the high street. Both of which are now in steep decline as energy prices rise and the governement look at more ways to take as much money as they can off us to totally squander (ooh little bit of politics).

Everybody is looking to minimise their winter schedule this year. Baby and fly be are no different. Unfortunately this is not the time for grand network building. However, whoever is left come the up turn will be laughing and at the moment that's all that matters. The fact that CWL or BHX or BRS loses this route or that route is frankly irrelevent in the big picture. It may be anoying to the airports trying to build a network but is unfortunately a necessary evil at this point in the economic cycle. Everything has to pay its way. If Baby and Fly Be are around in two years time CWL will get back what it's lost and probably gain a lot more. It has the ptoential but lacks the vision, airlines won't provide the vision for you ! Chicken Egg etc..

[mathers_wales_uk]

I was reading the South Wales Echo today and i read that apparently there is some kind of consultation or exhibition from 3rd of July for locals to view possible plans for new (improved) road links to the airport as it seems as it is acting for a break to possible development along with being too congested with the deffence accademy being on the airports doorstep.

[mrgittins]

Roads...

Mathers,
The WAG has posted a detailed info / comment pack to all residents of Barry / Rhoose / Pendoylan etc details of 3 proposed schemes re the access to CWL. It, surprisingly, does NOT mention MOD, St. Athan in the scheme of things. That is surprising. Web site etc is at:

Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru | The Welsh Assembly Government ... then click... Cardiff International Airport Access.

It is good to see that, maybe at long last, something will be done to sort out this vital link.

Any comments re prefered route anyone?

[flower]

I live in Cardiff and i have also received the consultation pack and form to fill in so it isn't just residents in the Vale who have received it.

[mathers_wales_uk]

is there a direct link to the actual document as i can't find it at all

[mrgittins]

Direct link...

Input or cut and paste as follows:

usual protocol then... new.wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/roads/NewRoads3 ... then click on Cardiff International Airport Access.

Hope this works !

What happened to KL again today ?

[Dragon tracker]

KL F100 went Tech.

they canxed the mid morning flight and changed ops to an F50 for the lunchtime op.

can't wait for the EMB's to take over the F100 routes.