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Cardiff Airport has 'long-haul flights potential' | Cardiff Airport has 'long-haul flights potential' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Plans to attract long haul services from Cardiff Airport have been submitted to a commission looking at air capacity in the UK. | Plans to attract long haul services from Cardiff Airport have been submitted to a commission looking at air capacity in the UK. |
The Western Gateway proposals include making better use of the spare capacity at Cardiff to reduce congestion at airports in the south east of England. | The Western Gateway proposals include making better use of the spare capacity at Cardiff to reduce congestion at airports in the south east of England. |
It calls for air passenger duty to be reduced for flights from Wales. | It calls for air passenger duty to be reduced for flights from Wales. |
The Welsh government-owned airport has seen passengers numbers fall to just below one million to March 2013. | The Welsh government-owned airport has seen passengers numbers fall to just below one million to March 2013. |
Passenger numbers had hit a peak of two million in 2007. | Passenger numbers had hit a peak of two million in 2007. |
The airport has also faced competition from its more successful neighbour, Bristol Airport. | The airport has also faced competition from its more successful neighbour, Bristol Airport. |
The latest proposals put forward by a group of academics and business people come as a one-day conference was held in the city. | |
The group says that regional airports have a role to play in reducing the pressure on Heathrow and the other more congested airports - with Cardiff offering more than neighbouring Bristol. | The group says that regional airports have a role to play in reducing the pressure on Heathrow and the other more congested airports - with Cardiff offering more than neighbouring Bristol. |
Lowering levels of air passenger duty at underused regional airports, such as Cardiff, is the way to do this, says Western Gateway. | Lowering levels of air passenger duty at underused regional airports, such as Cardiff, is the way to do this, says Western Gateway. |
It estimates Cardiff Airport existing facilities could handle three million passengers a year. | It estimates Cardiff Airport existing facilities could handle three million passengers a year. |
The group's report says it expects the airport's connections to improve in time with the high speed rail projects bringing more of the UK within a two-hour travel time, including central London. | The group's report says it expects the airport's connections to improve in time with the high speed rail projects bringing more of the UK within a two-hour travel time, including central London. |
It said Cardiff would have advantages compared to Bristol Airport - a longer runway and 24-hour operation - potentially giving access to a 4.5m people within a 90-minute travel time. | |
'Attractive' | |
Martin Evans, of the University of South Wales, said: "Cardiff is very well placed with its infrastructure. It has a runway that is sufficient for long-haul flights, it operates for 24 hours of the day and there are very few people who live in the local area who are afflicted by aircraft noise. | |
"We feel that the answer to attracting through Cardiff Airport for long haul is to set those rates of air passenger duty lower or even zero. | |
"This would make Cardiff Airport very attractive both to airlines and to passengers but those powers have to be devolved to the Welsh government if they are to be varied." | |
The proposals have been put to the Davies Commission, set up to look what future air capacity is needed in the UK. | The proposals have been put to the Davies Commission, set up to look what future air capacity is needed in the UK. |
'Crucial role' | |
At the conference on Monday First Minister Carwyn Jones said the airport "plays a crucial role" in Wales' economy. | |
He said: "While we are aware of some of the short-comings of the airport we are also aware of its many strengths and of its potential, particularly its capability of serving additional capacity which offers a lower cost and deliverable alternative to building new airports or additional runways at already congested, existing airports." | |
The airport, which was bought from its previous Spanish owners for £52m in March, is already undergoing a £500,000 facelift to promote Welsh culture and heritage. | The airport, which was bought from its previous Spanish owners for £52m in March, is already undergoing a £500,000 facelift to promote Welsh culture and heritage. |
But the latest passenger figures released in April showed that it saw a 15% slump for the year to March - dipping to just below one million. | But the latest passenger figures released in April showed that it saw a 15% slump for the year to March - dipping to just below one million. |