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Cardiff Airport's £500,000 'welcoming' revamp | Cardiff Airport's £500,000 'welcoming' revamp |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Cardiff Airport is to undergo a £500,000 revamp to improve the first impression passengers get of Wales. | Cardiff Airport is to undergo a £500,000 revamp to improve the first impression passengers get of Wales. |
Art and multimedia installations will be used to promote Welsh culture, heritage and businesses. | Art and multimedia installations will be used to promote Welsh culture, heritage and businesses. |
It is the first investment since the Welsh government bought the airport for £52m last month. | It is the first investment since the Welsh government bought the airport for £52m last month. |
Meanwhile, Robin Tudor of Liverpool John Lennon Airport, said Cardiff faced a challenging time with competition from across Europe to attract airlines. | Meanwhile, Robin Tudor of Liverpool John Lennon Airport, said Cardiff faced a challenging time with competition from across Europe to attract airlines. |
In recent years, Cardiff Airport has faced problems with falling passengers numbers - from a peak of two million in 2007 to less than one million - along with competition from its more successful neighbour, Bristol Airport. | In recent years, Cardiff Airport has faced problems with falling passengers numbers - from a peak of two million in 2007 to less than one million - along with competition from its more successful neighbour, Bristol Airport. |
It was also hit by the withdrawal of flights by budget airline bmibaby in 2011. | It was also hit by the withdrawal of flights by budget airline bmibaby in 2011. |
The Welsh government recently took over the airport with the aim of turning its fortunes around and to attract more airlines. | The Welsh government recently took over the airport with the aim of turning its fortunes around and to attract more airlines. |
This first investment announcement - agreed before the deal to buy the airport - will see work carried out inside the terminal, in areas used by members of the public and passengers entering Wales. | This first investment announcement - agreed before the deal to buy the airport - will see work carried out inside the terminal, in areas used by members of the public and passengers entering Wales. |
Art and multimedia installations from Welsh-based artists will be used to welcome travellers. They will be updated regularly to ensure the displays remain fresh. | Art and multimedia installations from Welsh-based artists will be used to welcome travellers. They will be updated regularly to ensure the displays remain fresh. |
Edwina Hart, Economy Minister, said the three-year project was just a small part of wider work to improve the airport. | |
"First impressions are important," she said. | "First impressions are important," she said. |
"Cardiff Airport is a major gateway into Wales for air passengers and this new project will showcase a uniquely Welsh approach to business, culture, the arts, tourism and events." | "Cardiff Airport is a major gateway into Wales for air passengers and this new project will showcase a uniquely Welsh approach to business, culture, the arts, tourism and events." |
However, the Welsh government's priority remains attracting new routes to Cardiff Airport. | However, the Welsh government's priority remains attracting new routes to Cardiff Airport. |
But, according to Robin Tudor, that could be challenging. | But, according to Robin Tudor, that could be challenging. |
As head of public relations at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, he witnessed its "phenomenal" growth from an airport with just half a million passengers flying to just three destinations in the 1990s to one of the most successful regional airports in the UK. | As head of public relations at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, he witnessed its "phenomenal" growth from an airport with just half a million passengers flying to just three destinations in the 1990s to one of the most successful regional airports in the UK. |
He told BBC Wales the airport's transformation in the decade from 1997 came because it found a niche in the market with low cost airlines and was able to offer passengers something different from its nearby competitor, the much bigger Manchester Airport. | He told BBC Wales the airport's transformation in the decade from 1997 came because it found a niche in the market with low cost airlines and was able to offer passengers something different from its nearby competitor, the much bigger Manchester Airport. |
Mr Tudor said that Cardiff too needed to attract different airlines and routes from its rival Bristol - but it faced competition from across the UK and Europe. | Mr Tudor said that Cardiff too needed to attract different airlines and routes from its rival Bristol - but it faced competition from across the UK and Europe. |
"I think it's going to be a very challenging time for them, I have to say, knowing what we face with competition to attract airlines, to attract new operators," he said. | "I think it's going to be a very challenging time for them, I have to say, knowing what we face with competition to attract airlines, to attract new operators," he said. |
"We have made inroads with a new airline called Norwegian flying out of here but that's the first new airline we have seen out of here for a long time. | "We have made inroads with a new airline called Norwegian flying out of here but that's the first new airline we have seen out of here for a long time. |
"To get growth at a time when the economy is still flat-lining I think would be quite a challenge. | "To get growth at a time when the economy is still flat-lining I think would be quite a challenge. |
"And knowing how successful Bristol is and the fact that Bristol has pretty much all the key low-cost airlines already well established there, to convince other operators to move into Cardiff will be a challenge." | "And knowing how successful Bristol is and the fact that Bristol has pretty much all the key low-cost airlines already well established there, to convince other operators to move into Cardiff will be a challenge." |
In its favour, he added was the fact that the Welsh government could perhaps look at varying air passenger duty. | In its favour, he added was the fact that the Welsh government could perhaps look at varying air passenger duty. |
He also said Cardiff should try to improve consumer confidence to build loyalty among Welsh travellers. | He also said Cardiff should try to improve consumer confidence to build loyalty among Welsh travellers. |
"It's about nurturing local support and sense of loyalty," he added. | "It's about nurturing local support and sense of loyalty," he added. |
"If there's very little difference between two airports it can come down to loyalty." | "If there's very little difference between two airports it can come down to loyalty." |
Meanwhile, Cardiff airport has announced four non-executive directors to its board. | Meanwhile, Cardiff airport has announced four non-executive directors to its board. |
They are businessman Philip Ashman, accountant Geraint Davies, Margaret Llewellyn, director of Finance Wales and Andrew Sargent, whose 30 years industry experience includes the airport sector. | They are businessman Philip Ashman, accountant Geraint Davies, Margaret Llewellyn, director of Finance Wales and Andrew Sargent, whose 30 years industry experience includes the airport sector. |
The directors will work with the chairman, Lord Rowe-Beddoe, chief executive Jon Horne and other airport directors. | The directors will work with the chairman, Lord Rowe-Beddoe, chief executive Jon Horne and other airport directors. |
First Minister Carwyn Jones has said the airport will be run "on a commercial basis" rather than being operated by the Welsh government. | First Minister Carwyn Jones has said the airport will be run "on a commercial basis" rather than being operated by the Welsh government. |
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