Cardiff-3

[supermarine]

The Welsh Government really are in a predicament . They are continuing to fund an airport that must be haemorrhaging money every month , their vocal cabinet members specifically opposed to air travel and must be delighted at this news today. Yet the facts are there that the Welsh public are continuing to travel to Bristol, Birmingam and London Airports in vast numbers to fly on vacation or business.

This is ramping up their carbon footprints and hardly achieving the desired outcome so desired by the green brigade down Cardiff Bay. Therefore I feel it is vital that they allow the Airport Management offer Ryanair the opportunity to recover passengers using other airports.

[davidjohnson6]

Originally Posted by supermarine

The Welsh Government really are in a predicament . They are continuing to fund an airport that must be haemorrhaging money every month , their vocal cabinet members specifically opposed to air travel and must be delighted at this news today. Yet the facts are there that the Welsh public are continuing to travel to Bristol, Birmingam and London Airports in vast numbers to fly on vacation or business.

This is ramping up their carbon footprints and hardly achieving the desired outcome so desired by the green brigade down Cardiff Bay. Therefore I feel it is vital that they allow the Airport Management offer Ryanair the opportunity to recover passengers using other airports.

Ryanair will smell the blood of a seriously wounded animal.... and demand extraordinarily good terms to add a significant number of flights at Cardiff

[Letsflycwl]

Originally Posted by davidjohnson6

Ryanair will smell the blood of a seriously wounded animal.... and demand extraordinarily good terms to add a significant number of flights at Cardiff

Ryanair could be the only hope left for CWL after the Wizz debacle and surely they must now realise this. They have the aircraft capacity and have “a market” from CWL to certain destinations and will have the rule of the roost now compared to BRS where they are up against EZY & LS !!

[AirLCY]

Originally Posted by shamrock7seal

Ryanair will probably do more at CWL since they're being squeezed out of BRS

They have an extra based aircraft at BRS S23, moving from 4 to 5.

[Letsflycwl]

Looking at other U.K. Airports for 2023 and quite a few including other regional airports (NCL, BOH, SOU, BFS, LBA etc) all have new airlines and/or new routes. I’m baffled as to how CWL cannot secure anything other than x2 weekly with FR and EI going daily to BHD.

Was there not meant to be a new person brought in for route developments?? Does not seem to have done much in his time. There will be no chance of getting EZY in due to the size of their BRS operation and same applies for LS too.

BOH have struck a deal with FR as have other airports throughout the U.K. & Europe which now have 1-3 based aircraft. In my opinion FR is the only hope if CWL is to survive.

TUI have been stagnant and not added anything new, even KLM down to 2 flights a day and Loganair operating just once a day to EDI is not very exciting.

Surely things need to change or we will loose the airport and see a new Asda take it’s place !!!

[davidjohnson6]

Will CWL be able to make money if a deal is struck with Ryanair ? If not, where is the money to run the airport going to come from ?
CWL doesn't exactly seem a luxury airport, and I'm guessing there are only so many pennies remaining to be pinched.

It'll be a completely new can of worms if the airport has to beg the Welsh Assembly on a regular basis for cash to keep itself running

[Letsflycwl]

Originally Posted by davidjohnson6

Will CWL be able to make money if a deal is struck with Ryanair ? If not, where is the money to run the airport going to come from ?
CWL doesn't exactly seem a luxury airport, and I'm guessing there are only so many pennies remaining to be pinched.

It'll be a completely new can of worms if the airport has to beg the Welsh Assembly on a regular basis for cash to keep itself running

Other regional airports such as EXT, BOH etc seem to survive with their FR deals but who knows. I believe CWL would have been a base over BRS if it was not for that fallout many years ago. That really peeved FR and saw them leave. They’ve gradually returned which is good but could offer Airport so much more.

Surely enticing in FR would be better than just a daily EDI & BHD flight in the winter ??? Just drives me mad that other regional airports are “coping” (who know under what deals) yet CWL can only secure a x2 weekly to BFS !!!

[cymru]

If there is any truth to the rumours that FR could be announcing a base (although I think it’s been established it was just a rumour). But suppose Welsh Govt had to disclose that they were chatting to FR as part of their contract/money to entice Wizz. Then might this have scared Wizz off?

[SWBKCB]

Originally Posted by cymru

If there is any truth to the rumours that FR could be announcing a base (although I think it’s been established it was just a rumour). But suppose Welsh Govt had to disclose that they were chatting to FR as part of their contract/money to entice Wizz. Then might this have scared Wizz off?

or maybe it's as simple as "if sales haven't increased to amount 'X' by date 'Y', we're off..."

[WelshDan1927]

That doesn't really explain why, less than a week ago, the airline announced they were selling flights through summer 2024.

Originally Posted by SWBKCB

or maybe it's as simple as "if sales haven't increased to amount 'X' by date 'Y', we're off..."

[Letsflycwl]

Originally Posted by cymru

If there is any truth to the rumours that FR could be announcing a base (although I think it’s been established it was just a rumour). But suppose Welsh Govt had to disclose that they were chatting to FR as part of their contract/money to entice Wizz. Then might this have scared Wizz off?

Hope this is the case & those FR rumours are true….if other airports have negotiated deals including those in far flung places in Romania then surely CWL has to have some bl**dy hope…..just look at the state of the departure boards, pretty shocking for the national airport of Wales.

Pretty quick retreat and exit by Wizz as only on Monday they were advertising flights through to 2024…

Could a FR “rescue” and PR stunt be happening soon ??? Hope so for all concerned.

[Asturias56]

wizz going was the final straw at Doncaster

[BristolexFlyer]

I actually think Jet2 may be a better fit for Cardiff. They did investigate prior to opening Bristol. Well regarded brand, didn’t seem to take long to gain traction at BRS.

Only thing would be if Jet2 are only interested in potential bases that could support sizeable fleets. Cardiff may do well with 2 or 3 aircraft but not much more than that maybe?

Kind regards

BeF

[Letsflycwl]

Originally Posted by Asturias56

wizz going was the final straw at Doncaster

Thankfully CWL has more than just Wizz & TUI which DSA had at time they closed plus CWL has that rather large BA maintenance centre thank god !!

[Letsflycwl]

Originally Posted by BristolexFlyer

I actually think Jet2 may be a better fit for Cardiff. They did investigate prior to opening Bristol. Well regarded brand, didn’t seem to take long to gain traction at BRS.

Only thing would be if Jet2 are only interested in potential bases that could support sizeable fleets. Cardiff may do well with 2 or 3 aircraft but not much more than that maybe?

Kind regards

BeF

Certainly agree with you there and there has always been a wish (or want) that CWL secured Jet2 for many years.

There is no reason why CWL cannot have a smaller base to compliment the larger BRS base and as you said 2 aircraft maybe 3 along the lines of what BMI baby had.

TUI & Thomas Cook operate/operated bases at both BRS & CWL without any issue or problem so cannot see how this would be an issue but then again this is CWL who seem to be so far behind others in getting it right.

[UnderASouthernSky]

Originally Posted by BristolexFlyer

I actually think Jet2 may be a better fit for Cardiff. They did investigate prior to opening Bristol. Well regarded brand, didn’t seem to take long to gain traction at BRS. Only thing would be if Jet2 are only interested in potential bases that could support sizeable fleets. Cardiff may do well with 2 or 3 aircraft but not much more than that maybe? Kind regards BeF

​​​​​​​Jet2 seems to be concentrating more and more on package holidays rather than seat only sales, so any introduction of a base at CWL might not be a direct replacement for a Wizz or Ryanair operation. Is there sufficient demand, considering Jet2's presence at BRS, for European package holidays in the CWL catchment?

[Letsflycwl]

Originally Posted by UnderASouthernSky

Jet2 seems to be concentrating more and more on package holidays rather than seat only sales, so any introduction of a base at CWL might not be a direct replacement for a Wizz or Ryanair operation. Is there sufficient demand, considering Jet2's presence at BRS, for European package holidays in the CWL catchment?

If a small operation/base then I would say yes especially to the Canaries during the winter months. A base of 2 aircraft maybe…….remember both TUI & TCX operated side by side at both CWL & BRS for many years with no issues plus there was also FCA & JMC too (yes that was many moons ago and prior to current financial state / covid etc).

People in Wales love their bargain bucket & spade destinations such as mainland Spain, the Balearics, the Canaries, Greece, Cyprus & Turkey and could be a good fit for Jet2 package holidays.

[davidjohnson6]

National airport of Wales... and the intention is that it should exist primarily to let the wealthier sections of society travel easily to Spanish beaches.
Doesn't say much for it being a national airport does it ?

[Letsflycwl]

Originally Posted by davidjohnson6

National airport of Wales... and the intention is that it should exist primarily to let the wealthier sections of society travel easily to Spanish beaches.
Doesn't say much for it being a national airport does it ?

CWL has always been a bucket & spade Airport for many years….Manx then BA Express had a good network of scheduled flights that disappeared. Air Wales, BMI baby, Air France, Lufthansa & Flybe have all tried the city destinations and proves there is a market out there but the sun flights have been the main business for CWL and that will never change !!

[UnderASouthernSky]

Originally Posted by Letsflycwl

If a small operation/base then I would say yes especially to the Canaries during the winter months. A base of 2 aircraft maybe…….remember both TUI & TCX operated side by side at both CWL & BRS for many years with no issues plus there was also FCA & JMC too (yes that was many moons ago and prior to current financial state / covid etc). People in Wales love their bargain bucket & spade destinations such as mainland Spain, the Balearics, the Canaries, Greece, Cyprus & Turkey and could be a good fit for Jet2 package holidays.

​​​​​​​My feeling is that if Jet2 are going to set up a new base now, 2-3 aircraft won't cut it. They will want to start with more than that and have confidence that it will be quickly be money making, even if the winter months mean reduced utilisation.