Cardiff Airport's Turbulent Times Week In Week Out

Welsh travellers flying in, flying out.

But not from Cardiff Airport. Tonight, we speak to unhappy

travellers. We should have our own national

airport and we should be able to fly out of it.

We test the Cardiff experience. It is a bit like an underground

car-park. A political row reignites.

This is typical of the kind of attitude we have had.

We ask, can Cardiff Airport ever Since BMI Baby pulled out last year

from Cardiff Airport, you just have to go to Bristol because of the

cost. Which is infuriating because I am travelling more or less past

Cardiff Airport to get to LLancarfan from Bristol.

For tens of thousands, the journey between Wales and Spain just got

more difficult. The Welsh travellers on this plane

boarded it in England, not Wales. What is wrong with Cardiff, why are

they not doing the flights? It was cheaper for me to have a

taxi back from Bristol into Wales than it was for me to fly into

Cardiff Airport. It's left Welsh people in both countries frustrated.

You are flying out every month enjoying the sun and all of a

sudden it is gone. When a budget airline launched

cheap, frequent flights between Cardiff and the Costa Blanca, Welsh

people bought holiday homes in Spanish resorts. Some liked it so

much, they moved here. My name is Mark Evans, I was born

in St Mellons. I have now moved out and live in Moraira. I've been here

for the last five years. Mark's family live just three miles from

Cardiff Airport. Having children back in South Wales, I want to keep

in touch. So I would travel back every couple of months, three or

four days at a time and it was straightforward, there's BMI Baby

and there was Thomson's. So they were competing with each other so

prices were very reasonable, 50 to 60 euros each way. You want to be

able to get back if there is an emergency.

I had to go back in January and it was 358 euros. Pounds, sorry. It

was the cheapest I could get. I flew into Bristol for 86 euro.

I've had one cousin go all the way from Tonyrefail to Gatwick, because

it was cheaper. You're spending half a day going to Gatwick.

Cardiff is 10 minutes. Mark and his Welsh expat friends

were so angry about losing their flights home that he contacted BBC

Wales. This email from Mark Evans who now

lives in Alicante, lucky boy. He says, "All the Welsh who want to go

to Benidorm this year will have to use Bristol." Dave, let's start

with you, Cardiff Airport? Rubbish! The times are much better in

Bristol for flying. There's hardly any transport, not

everyone can afford a taxi. Thanks to Roger in Porthcawl for

this one. The only thing that's flying around

Wales at the moment is on your programme, I tell you now.

But Roger's humour has been stretched. He bought a villa in

Spain on the strength of frequent flights out of Cardiff.

At the time, the budget airline were flying out there a couple of

times a week, so that encouraged us to buy out there. Sadly, BMI Baby

disappeared. Which was devastating for us, because that was our

holiday resort. That was our holiday home, that was where we

wanted to go. Roger's golfing partner runs a

business bringing golf tourists into Wales.

The problem we have got as a golf travel company is we cannot get our

clients into Wales and to their hotels quickly and efficiently. We

have to bring people into London, Manchester and Liverpool. That

means people on a budget, they will probably not choose Wales as a

travel destination. The golf industry in Ireland and Scotland is

booming. We're not booming in Wales. So how bad has it got at Cardiff

Airport? There were 30 percent fewer flights last year, than at

the airport's peak four years ago. Profits are down by two thirds.

Passenger numbers have almost halved. BMI Baby's departure is

thought to have cost the airport 600,000 passengers alone. Cardiff

has been owned since 2005 by the Spanish company, Abertis. The First

Minister says he wouldn't want to bring anyone through it because of

the impression it gives. So we decided to bring one of Britain's

best known travel writers through it ourselves.

Cardiff Airport, I haven't been here for about three years or so.

Looking at it, neither have the decorators.

I know that Wales's First Minister is worried about how Cardiff

Airport looks. But frankly to me, it looks brilliant because there's

nobody here. This what you want to see. You don't care that maybe it's

a tiny bit threadbare. There's a lady over there hovering very

effectively, but not an awful lot of people.

When you can get your entire day's departures into a couple of screens,

that's not a good look. From the airport's point of view,

pretty bleak. But where have all the passengers

gone? Most of them across the border to airports in England.

It's helped fuel Cardiff's decline. And Bristol Airport, in particular,

is feeling the benefit. Bristol is a base for big, budget

airlines like Ryanair and Easyjet, who offer cheap flights to many

destinations. And this acts like a magnet to passengers from Wales.

Around one in six people who logically should be using Cardiff

Airport, fly instead from Bristol. And there was evidence of that on

the day we visited. 15 percent of Bristol's passengers come from

Wales.The departure lounge is packed and lots of Welsh passengers

were flying to Paris, a route also served by Cardiff.

The main reason we've come here is because of the cost. It's cheaper

to park, cheaper to fly as well. What would persuade you to fly from

Cardiff? Cheaper flights, more destinations, better facilities in

the airport. Many people are willing to travel longer distances

in search of cheaper fares. Like Ruth Smith from Whitchurch in

Cardiff. She's a frequent flyer and visits family all over the world.

She plans her journeys with precision.

I normally put it on a spreadsheet. When I make my decision, I will be

influenced by price in the first instance and then convenience.

Where does Cardiff score on this? Cardiff is top of the list on

convenience. But on price, it's way down the bottom and always is, even

when you're travelling into Europe. I'm going to book a flight today to

go to Zurich. It will be a substantial fleet more from Cardiff.

It'll be approximately �250 to go from Cardiff. Booking the flight

late now, it'll be about �78 to go from Luton. But even doing the

maths, with the travelling back and forth, Luton's the best choice on

price. And it's the same with long-haul.

For a trip to Australia to see her son, Ruth could have flown from

Cardiff via Amsterdam. But it's more expensive from Cardiff.

Heathrow to Hong Kong, Melbourne to Adelaide, you would not want to

attack in before a flight so it is easier to go to Heathrow.

Business Stategist, Mike Snelgrove, has charted the rise and fall of

Cardiff Airport over the past seven years. He says the willingness of

Welsh passengers to look elsewhere has a significant impact. Lots of

people say they want to fly from Cardiff. Well, they may say that,

but their behaviour is something else, people are promiscuous in

their behaviour. Whilst they say they're loyal to Cardiff Airport,

if Bristol has the right flights to the right destination at the right

price, then that's where they'll go. Bristol has managed to attract big

budget airlines, household names. Has Cardiff really suffered because

of that success? It does, because they have a huge impact on people's

travel choices. The more passengers they have, with the right sort of

airlines, going to more destinations with more frequency,

builds this gravity that draws people in. Airlines are going to be

willing to place their aircraft there and it just snowballs, it

snowballs, it snowballs. Over a million people flew out of

Cardiff last year. Five times as many use Bristol. The catchment

area of Bristol is almost twice the size of Cardiff's and growing.

Bristol has plans to carry 10 million passengers by 2020.

Easyjet has 11 aircraft at Bristol, Ryanair has five. So why does that

matter? If the number of aircraft are

increased to four or five, then the cost you've got to have your

engineering facilities, your check- in staff to go with it, office

staff, would be apportioned against four or five aircraft, which would

be reflected in reduced ticket prices. He's flown budget airliners

into Cardiff and Bristol thousands of times. The larger the number of

aircraft, against just having a single aircraft, or indeed two

aircraft as we've seen in the case of a low-cost airline in Cardiff,

it just wasn't viable. And as passengers turn to Bristol

in search of low fares, so they take with them the money they could

be spending in Cardiff Airport. Like Cardiff, and most other

regional airports, Bristol actually loses money on its flying

operations. But because the budget airlines pull in such large numbers

of passengers, Bristol is able to make bigger profits on its shops,

its restaurants and its car parking. There are fewer airlines to pull in

the traveller's pound at Cardiff, though.

But is it only the flights which dictate your choice of airport?

Simon Calder is still checking in. I just can't get it to work. Join

the queue. Where did all these people come from, where are they

all going? What's happened here rather exposes

the problems of small airports. A bus turns up and all of a sudden

there's a queue. The fact that the self service machines aren't

working doesn't help. Well that was not impressive. Had I

been at London City Airport, which is by far the Business Airport of

choice, I would have missed my plane.

Cardiff Airport told us the check- in machines were fixed shortly

afterwards. Next, the departure What every traveller wants his Wi-

Fi. But I just want to check my emails. �5 for an hour. You're

joking, Cardiff Airport! I can take Kitwood dozen airports around the

UK where they would give you free Wi-Fi and you will not have to fill

out all of these things. -- take you to a dozen airports.

Simon leaves behind a terminal waiting for a �26 million

redevelopment. The Welsh government offered �5 million towards it.

Cardiff's Spanish owners say they are investing all the time but the

big project have been put on hold. I have to say, at the moment, I

would not want to bring people into Cardiff Airport because of the

impression that brings of Wales. Either we need to run the airport

properly or said. I have met the owners of the airport twice. I have

put these points to them and be met with a shrug of the shoulders. It

is not good enough. Cardiff Airport has other priorities. Management at

the Senedd are celebrating a new airline launching flights from

Cardiff for the summer season at least. The goodwill of the occasion

masking the tension behind the scenes. How do you feel about being

here in the Senedd when the First Minister has said the airport

should be run properly or sold? well... We don't have anything to

say about the ideas. It is Along with Cardiff, several other

airports are expanding. What would you say to those who say your

interest is in Luton Airport and not Cardiff? You are happy to let

Cardiff sweat. It is making a bit The First Minister would like you

to invest more than �20 million in the airport. It is that a realistic

This is typical of the kind of attitude we have had. After we have

talked to them, after all the work we have done to get the funding

package approved, they turn around and say, not interested. It is not

good enough. His postbag was full of complaints about the terminal.

We need commitment from the owners of the terminal. We have given our

commitment. Otherwise the future long-term for Cardiff is not good.

Thank you for coming to join us today. For the airport, though, the

future is bright yellow. Vueling is not a very known airline in the UK

and certainly not in Wales... Strangeland believes this could

turn around Cardiff's fortunes. But they need to fill in the seeds over

the summer to make them profitable. -- Vueling. Can you give guarantees

that you will succeed where Others Before you have singularly failed?

If we are able to offer a competitive price on these

destinations for an airport closer to them, it makes no difference

whatever issues there maybe with the airport. They will not matter.

But which matters most to the Welsh expats we met out in Spain? They

bought dream holiday homes off the back of frequent flights from

Cardiff. On this day, the arrivals and departures board at Alicante

trade shows flights to just about anywhere in Britain. But not Wales.

For expat Mark Evans, what used to be as simple journey home to beat

his children now requires detailed research. -- to see his children.

do not think Cardiff is that bad and airport. I wouldn't mind if it

was a tin shed if it was in Cardiff! Because it would make it

that much more convenient as opposed to Bristol. And do Welsh

businesses claim more about the state -- care more about the state

of the airport or the lack of light into which? Quint is the word I

think Americans use. -- quaint. He couldn't believe it was an

international airport. People only come in from Hollande and even then,

it is only their second choice because they would rather fly

Bristol because it is cheaper. It is down to the availability of

cheap low-cost flights in and out of Cardiff. Off but attracting and

keeping airlines in Cardiff may prove difficult with competition

from Bristol pulling airlines away. Flights were launched director

Zurich last year by another airline butter and now has to pick up

passengers. And there are concerns for the airport if passenger

numbers for any further. If the new relationships fail to produce the

goods, they could fall even further. Could Cardiff Airport be considered

viable at that point? I do not think so. I think it would lose

anything approaching to the critical mass it would need to

survive. Simon Calder has just got off his flight from Cardiff into

Edinburgh Airport. It has just been sold for �800 million. Spot the

difference! Welcome to Scotland! Airports are all about critical

mass. You need to have a certain number of passengers, is certain

number of flight, and then success breeds success, as it has done very

well indeed here in Edinburgh. The departures and arrivals boards tell

the story of any airport here. Flights to Frankfurt, Milan,

Cologne. And one from New York. That would be good for Cardiff,

wouldn't it? The competition for such routes is fierce. And often

involves some financial support from airports and governments.

Roger Parsons has seen airlines come and go from Cardiff and wants

to know whether enough incentives are being offered. There are many

budget airlines flying from the UK. Have they been approached? And if

so, why haven't they come in? Is there something stopping him? Is it

charges? Does Cardiff Airport really want them there? There must

be a million passengers waiting to fly out of Cardiff. They are going

elsewhere. Ryanair had an aeroplane at Cardiff but pulled out in 2006

in a row over landing fees. They took their aircraft to Bristol. So

is Cardiff being undercut? Robert Sinclair runs Bristol Airport.

Obviously, this is confidential and there are many rumours about the

deals various airports do with low- cost air carriers. Would you go as

low as 50 pence as a landing fee for a Ryanair jet? Never. If how

low would you go? Clearly I am not going to speculate on that. Not on

our commercial arrangements with airlines. Cardiff were not willing

to tell us what deal they have been given either. But we were told they

would probably have to levy no charges a tour to get Ryanair back.

Even so, it is clear that airport charges are not the end of the

story. Both Ryanair and easyJet said they want an airport that can

match their ambitions for growth. And Ryanair said that Cardiff had

missed their chance. For now, at least. Cardiff airports is it is

talking to airlines and government on a weekly basis. But with the

Spanish owners sell up? -- will the So they are open to offers. But how

much is Cardiff Airport worth? We understand when Strangeland bought

it in 2005, the company valued the airport at about �150 million. --

Abertis. The price had gone up to �200 million though Abertis will

not confirm this. Their profits had fallen, one expert says the airport

could be now less -- worth less than �30 million. That would be a

huge loss for Abertis to accept. But the expert said it would be

equally difficult to persuade private investors to pay more than

the market value for this airport. So would the Welsh government by

it? No. We can't do that. There is no a question of it. We would look

to work closely with any new buyers. No question about that. We would

look favourably on any new roads we can perhaps support. Could you take

a minority stake in it? For it is possible, yes. We have money to

spend we would consider that. something you actively considering

now when you speak to potential buyers of the airport? Yes. Abertis

says it is making money for them, albeit not much. Why should they

sell? Reputation. They are looking at taking airports over in other

parts of the world. Do they really want to have the publicity

surrounding Cardiff Airport? And from our point of you, they should

either sell it or things will carry on going on like this. The problem

of the Welsh government throwing money at Cardiff Airport is that

these days, every such move is extremely carefully looked over by,

well, the European Commission and in particular all the other rival

airports, so revile Bristol Airport, the first thing I would do is have

a look, see how much it was going for and probably raise a large

number of objections about unfair competition. -- if I were Bristol

Airport. So it is a tricky path to go down. And Bristol Airport told

us they will take legal advice if anything that the Welsh government

does appears to distort the market. But it says it is ready to serve

Wales' Aviation and Tourism needs. So is investing in less successful

Cardiff a sensible use of public funds? He it will be a political

decision as to whether we want an airport here and whether we are

willing to provide the assistance that Cardiff needs to attract the

new routes and destinations that are needed. A good investment for

the taxpayer, then? A thing there would be many people who would cast

doubt on that. -- I think. Thank you very much. Bye. It is a

bit grim. A bit like wandering into an underground car-park, but here

we are, at last. Welcome to wonderfully solid Welsh ground.

Thank you very much. It is good to be here. There you are. A friendly

face! Abertis have told us they are open to offers for the airport. Do

you think it is an attractive proposition for anybody? The best

way to make a small fortune is to start with a large fortune and go

into aviation. Airport, just like airlines, are generally very good

ways of losing large amounts of cash. Do you go through many

airports when it is like this in rush-hour? I wish it were not like

this but if things carry on the same way they are, well, it will

continue to be something of a national embarrassment. So what is

the future for Cardiff Airport? And in whose hands does that future

lie? The Welsh government and Abertis were due to meet this month

on a new airport taskforce. But no date has been agreed. In the

meantime, the report says it is trying to bring in more airlines

and destinations. And Cardiff's new budget carrier hopes its new route

to Spain will take off. We are betting on it. For the summer. And

we hope it will work. The First Minister says the airport needs

investment or new owners. But he cannot force a private company to

do either. Only apply pressure. is important from Abertis's point

of view that they help us as a government. And they own the

airport. They owe the people of Wales. But there are no signs it

will sell at �91 million or market value. Which means any new buyer,

including the taxpayer, could end up paying over the odds for Cardiff

Airport. A welcome that because something needs to be done and I am

sure I will support the airport if the pricing is right. As will many

other people in South Wales. Anybody from South Wales wants to

fly into Cardiff. It is home. You are coming home when you land at