Airport’s passenger numbers keep rising
CARDIFF Airport has just enjoyed its busiest year for eight years, new figures have shown.
The Rhoose-based airport last year handled 1.46 million inbound and outbound passengers.
That figure represents an annual rise of 9% – and bosses are expecting even greater growth this year.
Since the Welsh Government acquired the business from Spanish conglomerate Abertis for £52m in 2013, passenger numbers have grown 50%, albeit from a very low base.
It comes as the airport gets ready to launch the first scheduled service between Wales and the Middle East. A daily Qatar Airways service from Cardiff to the hub Hammad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, takes off in May.
Airport chairman Roger Lewis said the aim was to achieve double digit growth in the region of 10% in 2018.
With more capacity and routes from existing scheduled and chartered airlines, which include Vueling and Flybe, by 2020 the airport is aiming to reach two million passengers and by 2025 three million - at which point it would need new terminal capacity.
A new terminal could cost at least £100m, and an investment would be the trigger for the Welsh Government selling a stake in the airport.
The highest passenger level achieved was under the ownership of airports group TBI with 2.3 million in 2007.
Mr Lewis said: “For the first time since 2012 this year [2017-18 financial year] the airport will break even [using the measure of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation] and next year we will go into profit, which will continue in the years ahead as the valuation of the airport soars.
“And on pre-tax profit I am absolutely confident that we achieve that [profit] sooner rather than later..
He described 2017 as a “watershed year”, both for Cardiff Airport and the wider Cardiff Capital Region.
Highlights during 2017 included 380 additional aircraft arrivals and departures, involving 21,000 Real Madrid and Juventus fans, and their respective football teams, from the hosting of the Champions League Final at the Princi- pality Stadium.
Of total passengers, 30% were overseas visitors. The biggest contribution, came from the Republic of Ireland (16%), followed by Germany (9%), France (9%) and the US (8%).
The overall gross valued added of the airport, which directly and indirectly supports 2,675 jobs, is worth more than £102m to the regional economy.