Cardiff-2

[PDXCWL45]

Good news that Belfast is back and hopefully this is the first of many routes to return to Cardiff and will lead to a base!

[Letsflycwl]

Originally Posted by PDXCWL45

Good news that Belfast is back and hopefully this is the first of many routes to return to Cardiff and will lead to a base!

This must have been the reason for the CWL recruitment then for Eastern. Let’s hope they see the potential and eye up EDI, DUB and potentially CDG too and possibly base an additional aircraft for these routes.......obviously COVID will play a big part here but great to see BHD back

[PDXCWL45]

Originally Posted by Letsflycwl

This must have been the reason for the CWL recruitment then for Eastern. Let’s hope they see the potential and eye up EDI, DUB and potentially CDG too and possibly base an additional aircraft for these routes.......obviously COVID will play a big part here but great to see BHD back

I suspect those routes would require bigger aircraft Atr72 E190 rather than a J41 so could take longer to sort out.

[ATNotts]

Originally Posted by Letsflycwl

This must have been the reason for the CWL recruitment then for Eastern. Let’s hope they see the potential and eye up EDI, DUB and potentially CDG too and possibly base an additional aircraft for these routes.......obviously COVID will play a big part here but great to see BHD back

I do struggle to understand how Eastern are going to make money operating such a small aircraft as the J41, will they compete successfully up against EZY at BRS especially with leisure passengers who must make up a fairly large slice of the market.

[caaardiff]

I'm not sure if the pricing model is the same as it used to be but when T3 were operating NCL it was said that the breakeven load factor wasn't that high, even with only 29 seats. The starting prices currently available is £79.99 one way, and according to the website it looks like only 4 seats are available at that price. Hopefully selling 29 seats isn't going to be that difficult as the flight timings aren't too bad, despite it being only once a day. NCL worked for T3 for many years despite LF's not being that high, and i would have thought there is more demand for Belfast than Newcastle.
Depending on crew availability there is scope for another evening flight to BHD or elsewhere, as the VLY aircraft arrives back at 1820, so a 1900 departure to say BHD or EDI would work. That would then utilise 2 sets of crew throughout the day, which I'm guessing 2 sets of crew is already required for the current offering of VLY x2 and BHD x1.

[Letsflycwl]

Originally Posted by PDXCWL45

I suspect those routes would require bigger aircraft Atr72 E190 rather than a J41 so could take longer to sort out.

The J41 served all 3 of these destinations with British Airways Express for many years.....both EDI & CDG being 3 times a day back then so who knows what the plans are. Guess it’s “watch this space”

[PDXCWL45]

Originally Posted by ATNotts

I do struggle to understand how Eastern are going to make money operating such a small aircraft as the J41, will they compete successfully up against EZY at BRS especially with leisure passengers who must make up a fairly large slice of the market.

I'd expect that they would be looking at people who'll pay extra for the convenience of using the route and looking at their prices they're not that far away from Flybe prices when they operated a single daily flight on the Q400.

[Letsflycwl]

Originally Posted by PDXCWL45

I'd expect that they would be looking at people who'll pay extra for the convenience of using the route and looking at their prices they're not that far away from Flybe prices when they operated a single daily flight on the Q400.

The Eastern fare also includes a 15kgs baggage allowance

[PDXCWL45]

Originally Posted by Letsflycwl

The Eastern fare also includes a 15kgs baggage allowance

And free snacks, from what I can remember when the Flybe flight was Q400 daily it was in the bracket of £60 to £70 quite often. People were often complaining about the high price.

[Letsflycwl]

Originally Posted by PDXCWL45

And free snacks, from what I can remember when the Flybe flight was Q400 daily it was in the bracket of £60 to £70 quite often. People were often complaining about the high price.

Yeah so true, plus lounge access too for the higher fares (I think this is still the case). It’s great to see Eastern utilise the based J41 more between VLY sectors and I’m sure BHD will become a good little sector for them too (unless COVID has other plans).

I’m still thinking there maybe more from Eastern at CWL to come, 3 key destinations remain unserved (DUB, EDI & CDG) & Eastern still advertising for CWL based crew. Eastern have the larger AT7, E70 and E90 joining the fleet so who knows here maybe CWL are in discussion with them to step into Flybe’s shoes with some routes.......time will tell but hope I’m right as there be no competition for Eastern at CWL which would be good for them too.

[SKOJB]

Originally Posted by Letsflycwl

Yeah so true, plus lounge access too for the higher fares (I think this is still the case). It’s great to see Eastern utilise the based J41 more between VLY sectors and I’m sure BHD will become a good little sector for them too (unless COVID has other plans).

I’m still thinking there maybe more from Eastern at CWL to come, 3 key destinations remain unserved (DUB, EDI & CDG) & Eastern still advertising for CWL based crew. Eastern have the larger AT7, E70 and E90 joining the fleet so who knows here maybe CWL are in discussion with them to step into Flybe’s shoes with some routes.......time will tell but hope I’m right as there be no competition for Eastern at CWL which would be good for them too.

Don’t get your hopes up as even SOU with its new Eastern hub doesn’t have DUB (starting Jan 21 although been put back several times already) and CDG is not on the horizon what with cases in France rising once again. BFD has been chosen as it’s making use of an under utilised J41 and is also the best serving route on the network, albeit from a very low starting point!

[PDXCWL45]

Realistically for the likes of Dublin and Paris and Edinburgh were probably talking Summer 2021 potential start at the earliest maybe even winter or even summer 2022.

[PDXCWL45]

Cardiff Airport, in a move aimed at boosting freight traffic and associated storage and logistics facilities around its terminal, could also potentially bid.
https://www.business-live.co.uk/regi...mpression=true

[fanrailuk]

Seems Ryanair have removed BCN and MLA from their CWL offering for Summer 2021...

FAO remains at 2 x weekly (Mon & Fri, full season) and AGP remains at 3 x weekly (Mon, Wed, Fri in Jun, Jul & Aug only)

Here's hoping they will add more if and when things improve, but these are staple solid routes that should survive!

[PDXCWL45]

I'm sure both routes will return eventually.
But at the moment there isn't just the demand.

[LTNman]

So is Cardiff closing down for at least a couple of weeks?

[fanrailuk]

Originally Posted by LTNman

So is Cardiff closing down for at least a couple of weeks?

According to their social media posts they will remain open throughout for “legitimate air travel”

[LTNman]

Sounds like total BS. I can't travel to the Gower on Saturday for a holiday and they can't leave their area for a trip to the rest of Wales but someone from the Gower and I assume England can travel to Cardiff Airport for holiday in a virus hot spot like The Netherlands or Spain. We have to remember who owns Cardiff Airport. I am thinking if I paid £2000 for a half term holiday that is a legitimate reason to travel.

[CabinCrewe]

any sign of QR DOH? Though EDI barely managing a third capacity loads, Im surprised thats still being bankrolled!

[PDXCWL45]

Originally Posted by CabinCrewe

any sign of QR DOH? Though EDI barely managing a third capacity loads, Im surprised thats still being bankrolled!

Due to return for summer 2021.
The airport will be open for essential travel during the lockdown it will not be closed.