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Cardiff needs "clear and coherent vision"

Page last updated: 27th May 2011 - 02:36 PM

Cardiff Airport is facing a crisis, after budget airline, bmibaby, announced its intention to withdraw from the Vale of Glamorgan hub at the end of the 2011 summer season.

The development, while not immediately life threatening for the airport, has raised questions about Cardiff’s future prospects. Education leader, Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, of the University of Wales, noted that the Rhoose hub has a “critical role” as a driver of the local economy, but a lack of vision amongst airport bosses and local councils has allowed the nearby Bristol Airport to gain an advantage over Cardiff. “The question is, whether anyone is interested in doing anything about this situation”, the professor of enterprise explained.

Cardiff Airport’s popularity is waning: the price of parking spaces is up, and passenger numbers are down. Perhaps even worse, the Welsh hub’s ‘master plan’, a document that outlines bosses’ expectations for the future, has been written off as a failure. The airport had anticipated a high of 3.25m visitors during 2010, but poor transport links and the success of Cardiff's rivals actually prompted a slump in passengers, down to 1.5m visitors by the end of last year.

Alun Cairns, an MP in the Vale of Glamorgan, placed the blame squarely on the collective shoulders of the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG). Mr. Cairns said that Cardiff Airport is operated “effectively and efficiently” by its owner, TBI Abertis. However, a lack of support from the WAG is hindering efforts to create a consortium of supporters and investors, centred on local businesses and councils. “There is an obvious need for a coordinated effort”, Mr. Cairns told the Wales Online website.

The departure of bmibaby will bring about the end of thirty flights a week from Cardiff, including routes to popular ‘sun and sea’ spots, such as Alicante, Malaga, and Palma de Mallorca.

Comments - 7

1. Dr Robert Balfour

4th Jun 2011 - 02:59 PM

I agree entirely. This is crisis time; they have shot themselves in the foot with increased parking charges and the £2 charge for trolleys. I have just returned from Dublin, but missed the last flight to Cardiff at 3pm so had to fly to Bristol, then pay another £137 for a taxi to Cardiff airport to collect my car. If only I had chosen Bristol both ways!
And how do I get to Malaga? Thomson only fly once a week on Sundays. Unless another airline steps in soon to take over the flights to Spain and Portugal, Cardiff airport will lose its status as an international airport

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2. Dr Robert Balfour

4th Jun 2011 - 03:10 PM

I agree entirely. Unless another airline takes over the flights to Spain and Portugal,Cardiff will lose its status as an international airport. Even the flights to Ireland are poor.I have just come back from Dublin but was too late for the last flight at 3pm so had to fly to Bristol then pay £137 for a taxi back to Cardiff airport to collect my car. Add to that the increased parking fees and £2 to use a trolley and it is clear that Cardiff airport has lost its way.

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3. Nicola Foxwell

27th Jul 2011 - 09:41 PM

Cardiff Airport urgently needs to get a new airline on board to offer the popular routes that were available with BMI. Unless a new carrier is found quickly for 2012 Cardiff is going to lose out even further to the thriving, well run, Bristol airport. Something needs to be done about transport links too, we landed there late at night last month and had to wait nearly an hour for a taxi (which we had booked before our departure) and there was no other way of getting home. Charging £2 for a trolley is robbery - I have traveled to many places in the world and never paid before.
It is absolutely crucial for business in Wales and for the local communities that this very serious issue is addressed immediately.

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4. james root

24th Aug 2011 - 09:10 PM

I agree entirely with the above article plus of course it would be impossible to expand unless road access was greatly improved.
I am a frequent flyer CDF/Malaga and what worries me is who if any is going to take on the southern Spanish routes. Can you advise?

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5. Andrew Davies

21st Sep 2011 - 07:41 PM

My wife and I are regular user's of Cardiff airport and over the past 5 years we have witnessed the decline in standards, ease of access and basic customer service.
We have seen the prices shoot through the roof and the last straw was last May when we returned from a short holiday and found that if we required a case trolly we had to pay £2.00 for it. We witnessed elderly people attempting to carry thier cases because they would not pay the price. Cardiff is considered by many as the most expensive airport to fly from within the UK, and it seems that because of this fact that passengers (even those from west Wales) have decided to take the longer trip to Bristol to save on the expense. And Cardiff's answer to this is to hike up the price of travelling for the few loyal customers they still have even further. There must come a time when even the price of lotalty is just too high a price to pay.
So, BMI have decided to call it a day so those of us who want to travel to Spain, Portugal, Grece etc, will soon have no choice than to fly from an airport that offers these destinations, who know's we will probably save some money.

AJD

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6. Rick Nugent

22nd Sep 2011 - 02:15 PM

Could this be the end in sight for Cardiff airport? that would be a great loss to South Wales, and with so many people in Wales flying to Spain, I cannot see how the airport will survive without this route being covered. I am a fairly frequent user of the service to southern Spain, and taking a family of four down there it is cheaper to drive down than go via Bristol, Cardiff was competitive. I think it will be tragic to see the loss of Cardiff airport, which in my view is inevitable without the Southern Spain routes being catered for.

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7. mary knill

28th Sep 2011 - 07:20 PM

this year my husband and i have flown from cardiff airport twice to Malaga and we even persuaded our family to fly into Cardiff and they are travellers who are constantly flying around the world .We all found it to be efficient quick friendly and above all easy to cope with.A disgusting crying shame that yet again something so precious--certain routes --- are being taken away from Wales..Where are those who should be fighting to keep these routes.SOME ONE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES.We have recommended cardiff airport and even the route to lots of people and those who have used it like us have said why havent we done it sooner.

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