Air Wales has announced it is to stop scheduled passenger flights from next month. Up to 80 jobs will be lost as the Cardiff Airport based company moves to charter flights and freight transport only. The airline blamed the decision on 'spiralling costs' and 'aggressive competition' from larger low-cost airlines.
Air Wales currently flies to 10 destinations from Cardiff and a number of others from bases in France, Manchester and Ireland. In a statement, Air Wales said it was becoming 'increasingly impossible for independent regional airlines to operate profitably without substantial subsidy.'
All passengers booked with the airline after 23 April would get a full refund and help finding alternative flights. The company is holding discussions with other carriers over handing on its routes to them. Three have been announced already, with Aer Arann flying Cardiff to Cork, Eastern Airlines taking over Brussels, Aberdeen and Newcastle services and Air Southwest flying to Manchester and Newquay.
