Cardiff: General Airport Discussion & Updates

[mathers_wales_uk]

A320Neo yes (Airbus test aircraft) / Boeing 737Max No

 

[Jerry]

Carwyn Jones today has been in Downing Street at the Joint Ministerial Committee to discuss whether the Welsh and Scottish governments will agree to the EU Withdrawal Bill going through Westminster. As well he also used the chance to state the case for devolving Air Passenger Duty to Wales.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-deal-between-uk-welsh-14412925

 

[aviatorconcorde]

Carwyn Jones today has been in Downing Street at the Joint Ministerial Committee to discuss whether the Welsh and Scottish governments will agree to the EU Withdrawal Bill going through Westminster. As well he also used the chance to state the case for devolving Air Passenger Duty to Wales.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-deal-between-uk-welsh-14412925

Good opportunity for Carwyn to throw in a few demands and get them agreed in order to support the UK government.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I didn't know that the devolved governments could block Brexit. It's a matter for the Westminster parliament isn't it?

Under a political convention between the devolved governments and Westminster any new law that relates to devolved matters needs a legislative consent motion passed. It's a convention though not law and if the Westminster government and devolved governments can't agree the May government might have to push it though anyway.

Would the devolved governments go against the wishes of the British people who voted to leave the EU? Would Westminster politicians for that matter? It would be a dangerous precedent to set.

I suspect that APD devolution, although close to the FM's heart because he wants an international airport of which the country can be proud, is not one of the major matters on which agreement would stand or fall.

 

[Jerry]

I didn't know that the devolved governments could block Brexit. It's a matter for the Westminster parliament isn't it?

Theresa May said that it has to be ratified by all the devolved administrations. Also there is an argument about the powers that are coming back from the EU that are in areas already devolved. In the end it's a constitutional thing as both the Welsh and Scottish governments have bills going through to claim the powers but the UK government wants the powers to go to Westminster first and then get doled out which both devolved administrations are calling a power grab. If they can't agree a deal then i wouldn't be surprised if it ended up in the Supreme Court.

I suspect that APD devolution, although close to the FM's heart because he wants an international airport of which the country can be proud, is not one of the major matters on which agreement would stand or fall.

No, but it could be a little sweetener for the Welsh Government to recommend that the Senedd pass it.

Would the devolved governments go against the wishes of the British people who voted to leave the EU?

Well i'm sure Nicola Sturgeon would say that the Scottish people didn't vote for it and that Carwyn Jones would say that the Welsh people didn't vote to make themselves poorer and that his job is to protect Wales.
It will be interesting to see what becomes of all this.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Jerry

As this discussion is moving away from purely CWL matters I've replied to you in the General Discussions forum in the Continuing Saga of Brexit thread, #186 in the below link.

https://www.forums4airports.com/threads/3519/page-10

 

[aviatorconcorde]

Hopefully this snow doesn't affect tomorrows french departures back.

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

work continues on airbridge 7 today. It appears that the arm with the Visit Wales advertisement is to remain and there has been a white block installed in front where the new arm will be attached.

 

[Jerry]

I wonder if the rest of it will be installed by next week?

 

[Jerry]

Not Cardiff i know but tragically an RAF Engineer with the Red Arrows died today at RAF Valley (Anglesey Airport) when the Hawk aircraft he was flying in crashed at the airfield. The pilot ejected and survived and was taken to hospital. My condolences to the Engineers family.
https://www.aviationwales.com/pilot-ejects-as-red-arrow-crashes-at-raf-valley/

 

[TheLocalYokel]

It's terribly sad news. I associate myself with your sentiments, Jerry.

 

[Jerry]

The MOD has named the RAF Engineer killed yesterday at RAF Valley as Corporal Jonathan Bayliss aged 41. RIP.
https://www.aviationwales.com/mod-names-engineer-killed-in-red-arrows-crash/

 

[Jerry]

Now that Summer 18 is around the corner i decided to have a look at how many flights a week, what aircraft type and how many seats each airline will have onsale. I used the first week of August for reference and the departure and arrival flights are counted as separate flights.

Qatar Airways
787 8 Dreamliner, 14 weekly flights, 3556 seats weekly.
BH Air
A320, 4 weekly flights, 720 seats weekly.
Ryanair
737 800, 6 weekly flights, 1134 seats weekly.
Eurowings (operating on behalf of TUI)
A320, 2 weekly flights, 348 seats weekly.
Norwegian Air Shuttle (operating on behalf of TUI)
737 800, 2 weekly flights, 378 seats weekly.
Freebird Airlines (operating on behalf of TUI)
A320, 4 weekly flights, 720 seats weekly.
TUI Airlines UK
737 800, 64 weekly flights, 12,096 seats weekly.
Blue Islands (Flybe franchise)
ATR 72 500, 4 weekly flights, 264 seats weekly.
Eastern Airways (Flybe franchise)
Jetstream 41, 40 weekly flights, 1160 seats weekly.
Flybe
E175, E195 and Q400, 158 weekly flights, 15,364 seats weekly.
KLM Cityhopper
E175 and E190, 40 weekly flights, 3544 seats weekly.
Iberia Express
A320, 4 weekly flights, 720 seats weekly.
Vueling
A319 and A320, 34 weekly flights, 6072 seats weekly.
Thomas Cook Airlines
A321, 2 weekly flights, 440 seats weekly.
Thomas Cook Airlines (operated by Smartlynx)
A320, 30 weekly flights, 5400 seats weekly.

The aircraft types can change due to operational reasons.
The airport will see 402 weekly flights and 51,916 seats onsale for both departing and returning flights by it's scheduled and charter airlines which does not include adhoc flights by airlines like Enter Air or BMI regional.
Based aircraft will be 1 E195, 3 E175s (1 KLM overnight aircraft), 1 A320, 2 737 800s and 1 J41.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

I’d also like to pay my respects to the serviceman who was tragically lost in this accident.

Thank you for that summary Jerry, 402 flights per week is nothing to be snarled at. Let’s hope for a good summer and hope that IB Exp, Qatar and Blue Islands can do well.

Iberia Express doesn’t seem to have a lot of advertising coverage this year, or is that just me?

 

[Jerry]

Iberia Express doesn’t seem to have a lot of advertising coverage this year, or is that just me?

No it hasn't but that may be because the focus of the marketing team is taken up with Qatar Airways this year.

402 flights per week is nothing to be snarled at.

Nope it isn't and 202 of those flights will be under the Flybe banner which is a good presence.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

Interesting comment on the Cardiff Airport FB page stating stobart have until 5pm tomorrow to launch a takeover bid for flybe, why tomorrow?

All I can think of it's been a month since they showed initial interest?

 

[Jerry]

Interesting comment on the Cardiff Airport FB page stating stobart have until 5pm tomorrow to launch a takeover bid for flybe, why tomorrow?

All I can think of it's been a month since they showed initial interest?

I'd have thought if they were going to do something they would've done by now. I did read that after they expressed interest their share price dropped so maybe that has put them off?

 

[Jerry]

Interesting comment on the Cardiff Airport FB page stating stobart have until 5pm tomorrow to launch a takeover bid for flybe, why tomorrow?

All I can think of it's been a month since they showed initial interest?

Apparently Stobart and Flybe couldn't reach an agreement so Stobart have withdrawn their intention to bid for Flybe.

 

[CWL94]

WELSH GOVERNMENT PUTS ANOTHER £6M IN TO CARDIFF AIRPORT

The Welsh Government has invested an additional £6m in Cardiff Airport with the facility performing ahead of expectations, according to economy secretary Ken Skates.

With the airport hitting targets sooner than expected, the government believes the introduction of additional private equity is moving closer.

The money will be used to improve terminal buildings.

Roger Lewis, chairman at Cardiff Airport said: "On behalf of the board of Cardiff Airport I thank our shareholder, the Welsh Government.

"This is a ringing endorsement of confidence in the Airport business and will enable us to continue to grow, develop and serve our customers, our people and Wales."

Skates added: "This is clearly an investment not just into the airport, but into Wales.

"Our £6m equity injection in exchange of common shares is expected to increase the equity value of the airport by around £12m. We would not be investing this heavily if we had not had sound evidence that the airport is succeeding in its plan to move towards profitability.

"When I launched our Economic Action Plan at the end of 2017, I recognised the importance of connectivity within Wales, the rest of the UK and the world, to businesses and people. Clearly, for South Wales, Cardiff Airport is a fundamental part of the solution.

"Since we acquired the airport, it has seen year-on-year growth in passenger numbers, which are now nearing 1.5m a year. This is a nine per cent year on year passenger growth, on top of 16 per cent growth in 2016.

"Performance is ahead of the company’s projections, and the airlines taking off from Cardiff fly direct to over 50 destinations including 9 capital cities, and to over 900 destinations via 11 hub airports.

"This, alongside the launch of Qatar Airways which strengthens Cardiff Airport as a gateway for Wales to the wider world, shows very clearly some of the achievements reached to date."

https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/wales/welsh-government-puts-another-6m-in-to-cardiff-airport

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I take it this money comes from the £38 million borrowing facility provided by the WG that was negotiated last year, of which £25.6 million had been drawn down by the end of 2017, so there is another £6 million available from the £38 million if deemed prudent to use as the airport develops further.