Air Wales have reportedly been threatened by the Welsh Assembly Government, regarding the funding they get from the Route Development Fund (RDF) for operating the CWL-Brussels route. To continue to recieve funding from the RDF, 6G must dramatically improve punctuality and reliability on the service, with the service being described as “shambolic” by one AM. Flights are often late, and many are cancelled (right now flight 6G752 from CWL-BRU is cancelled, and 6G753 from BRU-CWL is also cancelled). To continue to qualify for the funding airlines must meet targets on passenger loads, punctuality, safety & service. Air Wales has missed it targets miserably for punctuality and service (not in-flight service, but the lack of notice or compensation given to passengers whose flight is delayed or cancelled, which is most). Emergency meetings are set to take place, with Air wales given a limited amount of time to turn things around. Otherwise, they will lose the funding.
By: PeterP - 10th March 2006 at 11:15
Actually, this is not the case. In Wales, the airport receives the funding and passes it on to the airline on a per-passenger-carried basis, in arrears. However, the airport is also helping this route in other ways.
By: Spence_CWL - 8th March 2006 at 17:34
In Wales, the airline recieves the money directly from the RDF. Therefore, they are fully accountable.
By: allmcc - 8th March 2006 at 17:14
Just a technicality but, assuming the Welsh RDF operates the same way as the N Ireland RDF, it is actually the airport and not the airline that receives the financial assistance which enables it to pass on reduced landing fees etc to the airlines operating the routes in question.
In the N Ireland case, the NI Select Committee recently expressed concern about the piecemeal way in which the fund had been administered in it’s first 12 months – it would seem that a much more watchful eye will be kept on it in the future!
By: BAASOU - 8th March 2006 at 16:37
blimee they are in a bit of trouble how they are going to recover i don’t no
By: andrewm - 7th March 2006 at 22:31
I must say im becoming a big advocate of the Welsh Assembley i think, and so is Mark L! NI are very strict with their RDF and easyjet etc have found strict enough regulations applying to them. I beleive Aer Arann ws paid £30,000 to start BHD-DUB and was fored to pay £28,000 back for only operating for a short enough time!
By: PlymouthCity - 7th March 2006 at 22:12
Hopefully this that major kick up the butt for them:D:D
Hopefully they will improve!!!
Or the route would be given to maybe Aer Arann, Bmibaby or even Air Southwest
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March 7, 2006 at 9:15 pm