Ryanair to launch new routes from Cardiff Airport – sources reveal
Emily Price
Ryanair has plans to expand its network at Cardiff Airport next year with the launch of two new routes, sources have revealed.
A document obtained by Nation.Cymru appears to show plans by the low cost airline provider to roll out flights to popular package holiday destinations, Alicante and Tenerife.
The documents state that Ryanair will be operating the Alicante route from April 4 next year with the Tenerife route flying from April 6.
Tickets
Nation.Cymru understands the two routes have been uploaded into Ryanair’s system in preparation for tickets to be sold.
It comes after rival airline Wizz Air pulled out of Cardiff Airport at the start of this year citing “high operational costs”.
In October, Ryanair announced it would make a third fewer flights this winter and serve only half of the routes from Cardiff Airport while ramping up flights in Bristol.
Cardiff Airport was bought by the Welsh Government for £42m in March 2013 and it’s operated at arms length as a commercial business.
Passenger numbers have fallen over the last decade and the airport’s value has plummeted by £37m.
Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters has said the airport is still recovering from the “devastating impact” on its business from the pandemic.
Right direction
But Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister, Natasha Asghar MS says Cardiff Airport should be returned to private ownership.
Commenting on news of the new routes, she said: “These new routes are absolutely a step in the right direction, but there’s still a long way to go in turning Cardiff Airport into a success.
“Despite what people might think, I am not at all against Cardiff Airport. I am against the Welsh Government’s shocking management of it with some £200m of taxpayer cash thrown at it.
“I would love to see Cardiff Airport thrive, but under Labour ownership it is not expected to reach a level of profitability until 2029.
“Removing the dead hand of the Welsh Government and returning Cardiff Airport to private ownership is the best way of turning its fortunes around as far as I am concerned.
“However, if the Welsh Government wants to continue with its vanity project, which is burning through public money, then they must work tirelessly to attract more airlines.”
Asset
Plaid Cymru’s Economy spokesperson said: “Cardiff Airport is an important government-owned asset for Wales, a gateway from Wales to the world and vice-versa. We need to make sure that the asset remains viable and well used.
“Plaid Cymru welcomes these new routes and hope that they will add to the diversity of locations that can be reached from Cardiff for the people of Wales and that they can bring new people into Wales.
“The Welsh Government must make sure that links are in place to help people use public transport as much as possible to access these new routes and that these are good value for passengers.”
Ryanair and Cardiff airport were approached for comment.
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Sure, it’s a lot of money. But it’s going towards a publicly owned asset, not the deep pockets of Tory-backing purveyors of dodgy PPE.
Public-private partnerships were Tony Blair’s baby
That’s your rationale for wasting money is it ?
Because a Party you don’t like in your eyes gave contracts to PPE suppliers , someone had to supply it , it’s ok to waste vast sums , 225 million since taken over by Welsh govt .
That’s acceptable then , could not have been used more productively for the people of Wales ? Just note TFW headed the same way , but it’s ok because Welsh Labour and Plaid are doing it .
If MS Asghar had the interests of her constituents and Cymru at heart, she would fighting to get the APD that are enjoyed by not only Scotland and N Ireland but places like Manchester and Birmingham, this would attract private businesses, both airlines and future buyers, while creating jobs for the area. Sadly she does the opposite.
Natasha Asghar’s priority is not her constituents. She campaigned against Newport’s bid to become a Freeport by backing Holyhead; attacked extra spending on new trains for TFW, recently announced by the Welsh Government, even though the trains are to be built in Newport and is actively looking for ways to become a politician as far away as possible from her constituency.
APD devolved to Manchester & Birmingham? Are you sure about that?
Madrid, Barcelona and Palma airport all government owned.
“private ownership is the best way of turning its fortunes around as far as I am concerned.“ seeing as she wanted to be the Mayor of London, I would say her concern doesn’t go very far at all.
Natasha doesn’t seem to realise that private companies are not going to buy the airport whilst APD is still not devolved.
A private company will come in and demand the Senedd pays them subsidies.
The taxpayer will still be paying for the airport, but with the monies falling into private pockets.
The taxpayer will still be in the same position, but Natasha will be happy because all she can shout it “private good, public bad”.
She’s not thought this through.
Now where is an idea. Flydubai have recently ordered 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, their first order for widebody / twin aisle aircraft. Unlike Flydubai’s current Boeing 737 fleet which lacks the range to fly non-stop from Dubai to Cardiff- or, for that matter, anywhere else in the UK – with a viable payload, the new Dreamliners to be delivered to the airline from 2026 onwards can do this. Even though Flydubai styles itself as a low-cost airline, they are more of a regional feeder airline for Emirates (who shares the same owner, Dubai’s sovereign wealth fund). Hence, a new Flydubai… Read more »
Why would anyone choose to fly into Cardiff, let alone direct from Dubai, when the transport links to/from CWL range from atrocious to non-existent?
The transport links are fine. You can get to the airport by rail, bus and 3 different roads.
A direct access road from the M4 would be very nice indeed, but the Welsh Conservatives didn’t want it when they saw it running through the Vale.
As far as I know the 787 Orlando flights from Bristol went out direct the vast majority of the time. And such such a Middle Eastern airline would have to be paid big money to fly from Cardiff as the catchment of the airport is too small and too poor to support such a route.Also Manchester and Birmingham airports paid the same amount of Adp as Cardiff but have far bigger and/or wealthier catchments supporting them.
What’s wrong with Gran Canaria ?
Manchester Airport very successful and publicly owned by a local authority consortium. Tories are dinosaurs.