I read on another forum ryanair are being courted by cwl.Anybody heard anything or is this wishfull thinking. My view on this is i think only about 2 routes would work for them. Alicante and malaga are the ones in my view.
If that did happen then perhaps easyjet would expand in brs.
any body any thoughts on it.
Several weeks ago Sion Barry, the business editor for a South Wales group of newspapers, published one of many articles in recent months concerning the ongoing purchase of CWL by the Wales Government (WG) in which he mentioned Ryanair. He seems to be very well informed on matters relating to the WG and its relationship with CWL and comes across as a supporter of the First Minister in most of the latter's actions and words on the subject. It's been suggested more than once tongue-in-cheek that he does a good job as the FM's unofficial press officer.
Anyway, all this suggests that he does have the ear of those in power in Wales so his articles on CWL should not be dismissed lightly.
In the article mentioned above Mr Barry mentioned that the WG had been in talks with Ryanair
in anticipation of the airport being acquired by the state (my italics). The airline's price was far higher than the WG was prepared to pay though talks were to continue.
A few days ago the article was effectively republished by the same newspaper group - the original emphasis had been on the airport purchase and how it would be funded - but this time the Ryanair negotiations were given more prominence hence other news outlets picking up on it. However, there is no indication that talks have progressed beyond the point described in the original article.
Obviously Ryanair has the potential to bring a large volume footfall through an airport, something airports (especially the regionals) need to feed their ancillary revenue streams such as retail and parking, but in CWL's case they would probably want the sun routes as part of any package which would almost certainly have a severely negative effect on Vueling, an airline that CWL and the WG are keen to have on board. Currently, public money is being spent by the WG on promoting Wales (and Vueling) in Catalonia.
easyJet always tells the local press how well BRS does for it (I think BRS is still the fifth largest base after LGW, MXP, LTN and STN) and there are usually suggestions about looking to new routes though from memory only Naples (summer only) and Copenhagen have appeared in the past year or two, the latter re-introduced after several years' absence.
There is no doubt that when the markets alone decide such things BRS has a considerably larger and better off catchment than CWL, and the residents of its catchment have a higher propensity to use air travel than those in Wales. However, when state aid is introduced things can be skewed although the law of unintended consequences can intrude leaving politicians with egg on their faces. Politicians' jobs don't depend on making a company a success though. They just dig a bit deeper into the money pit that the public kindly supplies.
