Sunday, 15 January 2012

Prepare for take off...

Cardiff International Airport has had its ups and downs. Lately, it seems, the downs have outnumbered the ups. News last year that Bmibaby would cease to operate out of Cardiff was a major blow to an already ailing business. Calls for the scrapping of the £8m public subsidy for the route between Cardiff and Anglesey (humorously known as Ieuan Air after keen support from Anglesey Assembly Member, Ieuan Wyn Jones) have been numerous and are another threat.

News this week that Spanish budget airline, Vuelling has announced additional routes between Cardiff International Airport and holiday destinations in Spain is most welcome. This follows closely on the news last year that the same company was introducing flights from Cardiff to Barcelona.

This is great news for an airport that has lost more passengers over the last three years than any other UK regional airport. Airport bosses are calling for the Welsh public to support these new routes and there are calls from local politicians for the establishment of some long haul business routes, such as to New York and Dubai.

What no-one seems to arguing for, however, is better transport links to the airport. Yes, new routes are an important factor in turning this airport into successful and thriving venture. However, people need to be able to access the airport to take advantage of these routes and not everyone is able to nor wants to drive there. The frequency of buses is appallingly scant and the facilities for those electing to use public transport is, in a word, shit.

I've written before, criticising the facilities at Cardiff International Airport. Despite this, I would love to write about how it had turned around this sorry image and now lived up to its description, international. Sadly, that seems a long way off. If Wales were facing a referendum on independence we'd have to take into consideration that anyone wishing to fly to a newly independent Wales would probably want to fly to Birmingham or Bristol rather than Cardiff International Airport.
Today's run at 09:19
Distance4.02 kmTime22:54
Pace5:42 min/kmCadence82 spm
Comments: Clear. Still.

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