Cardiff: Vueling Flights, New Routes & Schedule Updates

[CWL94]

Is it getting to the stage where we might not be seeing PMI and AGP with Vueling? It is getting rather late and unusually late for them in releasing the routes! ALC being cut by 50% doesn’t fill me with much confidence either!

If that did happen and the routes are not reinstated for S23! Having ALC at 5x, AGP 2x and PMI 2x across low cost carriers is extremely low; FR I’m sure would easily go on PMI and ALC if they had the capacity to do so!

 

[Jerry]

Still plenty of time to go but it is late for Vueling and would be a blow for the airport to lose the capacity but Malaga is onsale for the winter so if they were going to cut it then surely they'd chop it for the winter as well? It does seem a bit odd but if they don't offer either i wonder if the airport could get Ryanair to step in on PMI and increase Malaga?

 

[Pontyboy]

Seems to be counter intuitive to have a summer route pulled when the preceding winter schedule is operating. Would yields be that badly tarnished with Wizz to cut ALC by 50%? Hoping Malaga and Palma return but it doesn’t look good. It’s like the Barcelona route all over again…..you’d like to think that a Palma based aircraft from Ryanair (Lauda) would pick up some slack. Same goes for Malaga.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

Alicante has always been one of Vuelings best routes out of Cardiff and was even said to have been up there as one of their best on their entire network a few years back. Their summer prices certainly aren't cheap, so no doubt they will make money if prices are as they as at this early stage. I wonder if they will be more added next year after a review of forward bookings.
I find it really bizarre that Alicante has been cut and that Malaga isn't on sale yet considering it's on sale during winter. PMI hasn't been the best performer but VY's flight times haven't been great for some time. There is potential there if the timings are right.

Looking back to 2019 annual figures.
ALC - 116001 - 77648 scheduled // 38353 charter
AGP - 103341 - 74801 scheduled // 28540 charter
PMI - 107360 - 35905 scheduled // 71455 charter

There's a huge flip with PMI of scheduled vs charter but it's are very much the same market as ALC and AGP. So the passenger numbers are there and scheduled low-cost demand would absolutely be there. There would be many booking flight only on TUI (And previously TCX) and probably thousands going to BRS. TUI operate up to 7x weekly flights. I can't see Wizz having that much of an effect on ALC and PMI either.
I still think AGP and PMI will return, they are just cutting it very fine!

 

[Jerry]

Hopefully we'll the see the routes onsale before the end of the month, other wise it's a bit of a big capacity loss on some of the main routes for the airport.

 

[CWL94]

It appears the VY cuts from ALC, is more of a ALC issue than CWL!

Looking around it appears quite a few flights
from ALC to OVD and CDG have seen cuts for next summer too, CDG removed completely

Either it’s a reshuffling of schedules or VY are removing aircraft from the base to redeploy elsewhere!

 

[Foxlimayankee]

It appears the VY cuts from ALC, is more of a ALC issue than CWL!

Looking around it appears quite a few flights
from ALC to OVD and CDG have seen cuts for next summer too, CDG removed completely

Either it’s a reshuffling of schedules or VY are removing aircraft from the base to redeploy elsewhere!

I suppose it would give Wizz a welcome boost. If any of the Wizz destinations don't perform well it gives them scope to reduce frequency and throw another ALC into the schedule.

 

[CWL94]

The current offering for me is under capacity for the market! ALC has always preformed well from CWL!

I feel FR could easily come in 2/3 weekly and fill those planes alongside Wizz and VY! FR do have a big base at ALC and the stats show the demand is there!

 

[MrFenner]

ORY has finished and has been removed from the VY app as an option from CWL. However PMI is still there and not on sale yet for S23, so here’s hoping it will return!

 

[Jerry]

According to a post on social media, the airport has said on social media that Vueling will be announcing their summer schedule soon.
Does seem a bit late in the day too me.

 

[CWL94]

Apparently according to CWL on socials; AGP should go on sale on Friday for S23! Not sure about PMI!

 

[Jerry]

Lets hope both go onsale on Friday!

 

[Aviador]

I'd say up until Christmas for most carriers for summer flights.

 

[Jerry]

Vueling have put Malaga onsale for Summer 23, it's 2 weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

 

[geoff]

They have certainly cut back on last year to both Alicante and Malaga and still no Palma. Perhaps WIZZ is having is having an effect on them. Let's hope that WIZZ and FR replace some of the lost services.

 

[MrFenner]

They have certainly cut back on last year to both Alicante and Malaga and still no Palma. Perhaps WIZZ is having is having an effect on them. Let's hope that WIZZ and FR replace some of the lost services.

This is exactly what needed to be avoided at CWL. VY have kept a presence in CWL year-round since they began operations in 2012 - they have been loyal for over a decade so it's a shame to see them pulling right back to a basic schedule compared to what it has been in years gone by.

I guess the saving grace is they're not leaving altogether...

As you say, maybe FR can pick up some of the lost frequency - or is it even needed at all with W9 present on those routes too?

Only time will tell.

 

[Jerry]

This is exactly what needed to be avoided at CWL. VY have kept a presence in CWL year-round since they began operations in 2012 - they have been loyal for over a decade

But they've not expanded beyond 3 routes and for the airport to grow they need a based LCC and any airline who does that is going to want to operate the routes that Vueling do.
Hopefully any lost capacity will be replaced by other airlines. Maybe Vueling know something we don't!

 

[CWL94]

PMI now removed from the app! Looks like that’s the end of that!

 

[geoff]

We need FR or W9 to increase their services to PMI, it is a shame that Vueling are cutting back at CWL after so many years.

 

[Jerry]

Really disappointing too see Vueling drop Mallorca, can only hope someone else picks up the slack.