Cardiff Airport passengers down 18%
16.03.10
Statistics from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have reveal a slump in passengers that hit all UK airports last year, with 7.4% fewer passengers passing through their terminals, was more than matched at Cardiff Airport, where passenger figures showed a decrease of more than 18%, the Western Mail reports. Cardiff, which in 2007 was the fastest growing regional airport in the UK, saw 1.63 million passengers pass though its terminal, compared to 1.98million in 2008 and 2.10million in 2007.
Charter airline numbers from Cardiff Airport fell 22% in 2009 compared with 2008, while domestic flight traffic was down 9% and scheduled airline traffic fell 15%. Air transport movements – landings and take-offs of commercial aircraft – also fell 27% which was three times more than the UK average.
Steve Hodgetts, Cardiff Airport’s director of business development, said the airport had little influence over the number of passengers who use it - which seems a strange statement given the fees they set for airlines influence the routes offered and therefore the number of passengers.
He said: ‘I think what we have seen is a result of an airline mix that has been less aggressive in the recession. We have had some airlines remove planes from the airport and this has impacted on the number of routes we are able to offer.'
'However, I wouldn’t want anyone to think we are sitting on our hands and doing nothing about this. We are involved in a number of conversations which will hopefully result in more routes out of Wales.’
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