Cardiff Airport will see the launch of its first low-cost airline base for two decades with Wizz Air UK later this week with its chief executive, Spencer Birns, confident that passenger numbers can recover to 50% of pre-Covid by year end.
The airport, which is wholly-owned by the Welsh Government but operated by an at arm’s length commercial company, saw its last base from a low-cost carrier launched back in 2002 with Bmibaby, before its demise in 2011.
From Friday, Wizz Air will initially start with one plane, but Mr Birns says if the nine leisure routes can prove a commercial success - for which the first three years are critical to demonstrating a return on investment - from the airport’s perspective there is scope for the airline to significantly increase routes and aircraft capacity.
