Hasn't the funding been discussed to death over the last 3 years? It isn't anything new.
Flybe have 4 x 175 deliveries this year into next year. CWL is performing very well and when the 195s go it'll be performing even better, the fact that the funding is helping massively is largely irrelevant, the time when it will matter is when the deal comes to an end in 7 years time, only then we'll see the strategy of both parties.

In point of fact, although FlyBe have orders for 4 additional E175s, only one, according to Jethros, is for delivery in 2019. The other 3 have no fixed delivery dates as yet, and have probably been deferred.

It has also been stated publicly that the current management at FlyBe is reducing it's fleet, and that can only impact less well performing routes. Whether any of these prove to effect Cardiff only time will tell. How anyone outside FlyBe can state categorically that the Cardiff base is doing well, or badly, is beyond me. Anyone with insider knowledge shouldn't be posting it here. Bums on seats aren't a measure of how well routes are doing, it's the revenue that is crucial. I wish CWL no ill will whatsoever, but sometimes allowing the head to over rule the heart is a good policy.

Can only look at the evidence on hand and that suggests the Flybe operation is growing and doing well. Only Flybe and the airport will have the finer details and they aren't going to release it to the likes of me!
As for the future only Flybe and the airport know IF they'll continue to add extra aircraft as was mentioned in a press article earlier in the year and what extra frequencies they'll add and what new routes if any they'll add or are looking to add. If i'm correct it'll be around September time that we'll find out if they are going to add a 4th aircraft and if they'll keep expanding.

I wouldn't take what's posted on Jethro's as gospel for what happens in reality, after all, it's a 1 man band upgrading his website based on what information he gets. It's very good but there's nothing official about it so when you say they've probably been deferred, well that just proves the point I've just made, Jethro's doesn't know everything. It's almost as bad as going to Wikipedia for hard facts.
For the record, if you're referring to me personally (which you must be because you quoted me) how do you know I'm outside Flybe? Well I'm not, I've worked at Flybe for a long time and no insider or confidential information has ever been posted by myself. Stating CWL is performing well does not constitute posting sensitive information. If I told you the inner workings of the business then I'd agree with you, but to just say "it's performing well" doesn't matter one jot to anyone. Let's just say I know what I'm talking about regarding it performing well, how do I know this? I have been told by someone higher up, and the ONLY thing I was told is exactly that, it's performing well, those exact words, nothing more, nothing less. Also do you honestly believe I think the measure of performance is about bums on seats and not revenue, seriously? That's like telling a 50 year old how to cross a road.

Guess we will find out rougly how they doing when funding runs out.

Why does everyone assume there is a continuous subsidy? It could just be a lump sum at the beginning of the deal.

Well the deal has 7 years to run, so sit back a while. Remember too that the deal was for 2 aircraft, well it now has 3 and there's rumours of a 4th, so yes, it must be all about the funding why it's doing well. I'm pretty sure there's some sad and pathetic people on here that actually wants it to fail.

No-one really knows the deal but the general perception is the WG are leasing 2 aircraft and have decided on the routes those aircraft will operate with a view of connecting South Wales to various cities with some extra capacity on 'sun' routes. Anything above that I would expect BE are operating on their own back with their own financial involvement. Given that it's grown to 3 and maybe soon 4 aircraft would give confidence that the routes BE are operating on their own merit have commercial viability and can work well in conjuntion with the other 'city' routes that may well be taking longer to mature. Yes the big question is what happens with those routes at the end of the deal, which is several years away.

Really? Would love to see the "state aid" justification for that approach.

Given that it's been running for 3 years it doesn't seem to have been an issue so far...

Icelandair from Akureyri is due in at 13.15 and it looks like its going to be a 757 200. It's then due to depart to Keflavik at 14.15
Nice to see something different at the airport !

Atlantic Airways were in yesterday on a charter from Vagar with an A320.

They are back again on the 29th as well.

First Qatar Airways flight to Cardiff
 

Wonder what the loads will be like ?

Whatever they are going forward one thing you can be sure of is that today's loads won't be a true indicator - probably hoards of politicians, dignitaries and journalists among the fare paying public.

Carwyn Jones, Alun Cairns and Roger Lewis are all on the inaugural flight. No doubt there'll be some Qatari dignitaries as well.

Plus "hangers on" from the tourist boards, travel industry, freight industry, key potential manufacturing cargo clients - wouldn't be surprised to see Simon Calder if he can find his way beyond the M25!

If Calder turns up then Cardiff knows it's hit the big time! LOL

The first Cardiff to Doha flight took off ontime with just under 200 passengers onboard. Great seeing the A350 here! A lovely looking plane!

Well good luck CWL with QR. A new era for the airport.

Their LF's from BHX, EDI and even MAN have not exactly been stellar of late so I wouldn't worry too much about loads, it seems that QR operate quite differently to most other airlines in this respect. BHX (my local) has been stuck in and around the 70%-80% LF area for a while now.

This shows how much faith QR have in the route that they didn't decide to launch with one of their more controversial "going backwards" aeroplanes.

Qatar Inaugural Flight
 

Steps had always been planned for the inaugural flight for publicity purposes (pictures of staff, local politicians on stairs etc). The 788 that operated the flight today is currently attached to the airbridge!

From what I've heard it seems to be doing ok. Cargo hold full, loads between 50 to 70% with good uptake in the business class cabin. Still early days and the route needs to mature which will take time but the early signs are positive.
Qatar and the airport also did a great video of the launch!
https://youtu.be/luuntlCstGg

I really don't where you're getting your information but I'm afraid it's so wrong. I think you should wait until the statistics are published before you get too excited. At the moment your source is leading you up the garden path.

If you have info that i don't then would you care too share it?

Doubt he is on the inside - he is crazy about BRS that's all.

I have no data but I believe that regional UK airports to Middle East is going to be a feature in the next few years. Just look at the capacity being offered from the main airports. Some overflow is bound to happen and should be sustainable.

Emirates, Turkish & Etihad could all be candidates for further UK regional growth only airport runway length will limit the potential.

I think Qatar will launch Belfast eventually and i wouldn't be surprised if they launch a Yorkshire airport as well in the long term. I do think one of the attractions of Cardiff for Qatar is cargo so i believe that will be a factor in their decisions of which airports they'll look at.

No chance Etihad will be flying to regional airports in the UK anytime soon IMO. The airline is undergoing cut backs worldwide including EDI and with the bad investment choices it made i cant see any signif expansion from them any time soon. Qatar and Turkish are best bet for regional airports with suitable aircraft.

I hope Qatar do well at Cardiff.

The 1.5 million passengers mark has been reached.
www.cardiff-airport.com/news/2018/05/10/cardiff-airport-hits-1-5m-milestone/

First Qatar diversion was this morning due to fog. It diverted to BHX and the outbound operated from there.

Some very odd movements on the Qatar schedule/booking system currently.
I first looked at the website timetable which is only showing 5x weekly CWL-DOH as of the beginning of November (Mo, Tu, Th, Fr, Sa) up to the end of March. (Nothing bookable after that point). Wasn't this route supposed to be daily after mid-June onwards throughout the Summer and next Winter?
Then I decided to look for some test-bookings on the Qatar website and I can only seem to book direct flights from CWL-DOH 3x weekly (We, Fr, Sa) from now until 18th June, and then 4x weekly (Mo, We, Fr, Sa) onwards through the Summer until November.
From the 29th October it seems to go 3x weekly (Mo, Fr, Sa) through the Winter...
On the days where it's not going direct it is giving me the option of going via EDI with flybe.

Has anyone any insight into whats going on? If this is the case that the flights have been cut then my trip to Oz in November to and from CWL on a Thursday is going to be royally screwed...

Looking fine on my computer, daily flights on the Qatar booking website. I really do not think there is a problem. Try again.

Then it's time to get a new computer.
Were you looking at the timetable maybe? Try booking a direct flight on the Qatar website on the 7th August, 9th August or 12th August..... these days do not have direct flights and instead offer a 1-stop via Edinburgh with Flybe.
Like I said, after the 18th June there are only 4x direct flights to DOH a week.