Cardiff Airport has submitted tenders to the Welsh Assembly Government for a new and politically important North to South Wales air link to Anglesey. The news comes as the airport's new marketing manager outlined his wish list of new destinations.
The airport passed 2 million passengers on its scheduled and charter routes for the first time last year, with growth of 13% compared to the previous year. Twelve new routes were launched in 2006, with four new destinations already announced for 2007 - Barcelona, Kos, Nantes and Belfast City.
The airport's newly appointed Head of Aviation Business Relationships, Spencer Birns, said Cardiff Airport is very keen to attract a US route, to complement Zoom's regular flight to Toronto and Vancouver. A Middle East Hub with worldwide connections, particularly to Australasia, is also in the airport's sights.
Closer to home, the airport is keen to regain flights to Paris, lost when Air Wales stopped passenger flights last year, and to add new routes to Aberdeen, Dusseldorf and Munich. More flights to Spain, to Italy and to Poland ('Katowice would be ideal', says Birns) are also wanted.
