Cardiff Airport is sold to the Welsh government for £52m

Troubled Cardiff Airport has been sold to the Welsh government for £52m.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said it would not be operated by the government and would be managed "at arm's length" and "on a commercial basis".
Mr Jones has been critical of the airport after a slump in passenger numbers from a peak of two million in 2007 to just over one million in 2012.
Rival airport Bristol raised concerns that Cardiff would unfairly benefit from state support.
Speaking after the government announced the deal, Mr Jones said it was vital for the number of passengers to be increased.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21952079

This will all end in tears!!!

Here we are a WAG constantly complaining that they have no money for this and no money for that yet buy a flop of an airport for £52 million!!!! You couldn't make it up!!!!

This will all end in tears!!!

Here we are a WAG constantly complaining that they have no money for this and no money for that yet buy a flop of an airport for £52 million!!!! You couldn't make it up!!!!

Soo what do you think should have happened with the airport

This will all end in tears!!!

Here we are a WAG constantly complaining that they have no money for this and no money for that yet buy a flop of an airport for £52 million!!!! You couldn't make it up!!!!

It doesn't have to be a flop though. A couple of forward thinking investors needed now to make a big turn-around in the Airports fortunes. VT maybe . He could land his Jet there then instead of at London airports.

This will all end in tears!!!

Here we are a WAG constantly complaining that they have no money for this and no money for that yet buy a flop of an airport for £52 million!!!! You couldn't make it up!!!!

It doesn't have to be a flop though. A couple of forward thinking investors needed now to make a big turn-around in the Airports fortunes. VT maybe . He could land his Jet there then instead of at London airports.

Your right the place needs a rebrand...

This will all end in tears!!!

Here we are a WAG constantly complaining that they have no money for this and no money for that yet buy a flop of an airport for £52 million!!!! You couldn't make it up!!!!

It doesn't have to be a flop though. A couple of forward thinking investors needed now to make a big turn-around in the Airports fortunes. VT maybe . He could land his Jet there then instead of at London airports.

Your right the place needs a rebrand...

This ^^^^

It only needs a bit of creative marketing and investment to become a successful airport. Cardiff has so much to offer with the Brecon Beacons to the north, the history of Merthyr close by and then the attraction of West Wales. A client I work with has decided to fly out to Spain from Cardiff tomorrow purely because it's cheaper than flying from London where he works. There is potential there, just needs to be realised.

Personally, I'm pleased to see the government looking at innovative ways to generate money rather than making cuts upon cuts. Austerity isn't working, not in the "democratic" climate we are living in. £52m is a lot of money but what can help Cardiff and Wales become a more attractive tourist destination? Easier access. Cardiff Airport is key in bringing more money to the country and I am glad we own it again.

What pisssed me off earlier was director of cbi wales say , lets get it back in profit and let private sector take it on? Ffs haven't helped since the 3 councils gave it up years ago! X

A dual carriageway direct from the M4, a branch line straight to a rail station at the terminal with a service every 15-20 minutes from Central station, a large £1 drop off/pick up car park right outside the terminal like they have at Bristol. But most importantly of all they need to try and get Ryanair and or Easyjet back, even if they have to be heavily subsidised to get people back into using the place instead of Bristol, it would be money well spent. I believe they are already in talks with Ryanair.

People always moan about the airport being hard to get to but Bristol is a crap airport to get to, bad road link, no rail service, terrible traffic at certain times of day. The only reason people this side of the bridge use it is the choice of routes and cost. At the moment you can't even fly to Prague from Cardiff!!

A dual carriageway direct from the M4, a branch line straight to a rail station at the terminal with a service every 15-20 minutes from Central station, a large £1 drop off/pick up car park right outside the terminal like they have at Bristol. But most importantly of all they need to try and get Ryanair and or Easyjet back, even if they have to be heavily subsidised to get people back into using the place instead of Bristol, it would be money well spent. I believe they are already in talks with Ryanair.

People always moan about the airport being hard to get to but Bristol is a crap airport to get to, bad road link, no rail service, terrible traffic at certain times of day. The only reason people this side of the bridge use it is the choice of routes and cost. At the moment you can't even fly to Prague from Cardiff!!

Only problem with subsidy is euro laws! But ways around it, also now wag has interest in it we may get the USA airline in there, that's been in the wings for ages, its worth 2oo mil to economy over time.

This will all end in tears!!!

Here we are a WAG constantly complaining that they have no money for this and no money for that yet buy a flop of an airport for £52 million!!!! You couldn't make it up!!!!

Soo what do you think should have happened with the airport

The best way forward is what has been suggested by a number of recent studies is for both Bristol and Cardiff airport to close and for a new seven-side airport to open outside of Newport.

The sooner that happens the better IMO

A dual carriageway direct from the M4, a branch line straight to a rail station at the terminal with a service every 15-20 minutes from Central station, a large £1 drop off/pick up car park right outside the terminal like they have at Bristol. But most importantly of all they need to try and get Ryanair and or Easyjet back, even if they have to be heavily subsidised to get people back into using the place instead of Bristol, it would be money well spent. I believe they are already in talks with Ryanair.

People always moan about the airport being hard to get to but Bristol is a crap airport to get to, bad road link, no rail service, terrible traffic at certain times of day. The only reason people this side of the bridge use it is the choice of routes and cost. At the moment you can't even fly to Prague from Cardiff!!

Only problem with subsidy is euro laws! But ways around it, also now wag has interest in it we may get the USA airline in there, that's been in the wings for ages, its worth 2oo mil to economy over time.

Is that the same US airline which WAG failed to support and supported a route to North Wales which actually cost the taxpayer more instead..? Its that type of forward thinking which worries me about this

Troubled Cardiff Airport has been sold to the Welsh government for £52m.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said it would not be operated by the government and would be managed "at arm's length" and "on a commercial basis".
Mr Jones has been critical of the airport after a slump in passenger numbers from a peak of two million in 2007 to just over one million in 2012.
Rival airport Bristol raised concerns that Cardiff would unfairly benefit from state support.
Speaking after the government announced the deal, Mr Jones said it was vital for the number of passengers to be increased.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21952079

A positive and constructive step towards ensuring a future for our only airport. This will haves major impact on our economy . It couldn't go on the way it was

We need an easily accessible airport for the area.
It needs the "cheap" airlines like Easyjet and Ryanair.

Then build on the economic benefits it will obviously bring.
Simples really