Written question WQ88101
- Asked by
- Laura Anne JonesConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 11 days
Question
What plans does the Government have to increase airline companies operating from Cardiff Airport?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Climate Change
We have put a £42.6m rescue and recovery package in place which is designed to enable Cardiff Airport to become self-sustainable and profitable in the future.
Welsh Ministers do not intervene with airline decisions, or in the airport’s day-to-day commercial and operational decisions. The airport continues to work on finding new airlines to operate from the airport.
The airport leadership team is in regular dialogue with many airlines as it continues to develop commercial relationships with airlines which are interested in investing in new air services to and from Wales. We are very happy with the leadership the airport board has demonstrated – the progress to recover passenger numbers over the last year is testament to its ability to manage an airport in turbulent times.
The airport has seen an increase in flights from companies such as KLM and Ryanair and bookings across all services are looking healthy for the spring and summer season. We welcome the news TUI is adding an extra 40,000 holidays from Cardiff Airport for 2024.
It remains our policy objective to secure the long-term future of Cardiff Airport. It is vital for Wales’s economic development that we have strong international connectivity to and from Wales as well as a welcoming open door for tourism and major events.