Proposals for a £100 million expansion of Cardiff Airport were unveiled yesterday. A masterplan covering the next 24 years forecasts passenger numbers will grow from the current level of 1.9 million a year to 5 million by 2015 and around 8 million by 2030.
The plans were formulated over the last 12 months in response to the 2003 Government White Paper on the future of air transport in the UK. This paper asked all airports to predict how they will they cope with an expected increase in passenger numbers in the UK.
The masterplan would see Cardiff close the gap with local rival Bristol Airport, which has its own long-term expansion plan. However, unlike some of the expansion plans proposed by counterparts in other parts of Britain, airport bosses in Cardiff are confident their development will not provoke significant outcry from local residents.
They say modest extensions and a reorganisation of the existing terminal building will accommodate the four-fold increase in passenger numbers. A short taxiway on the runway will provide extra flight capacity and, with planes taking off over the sea or agricultural land, noise levels will affect a limited area and have no significant impact on local schools or hospitals.
The plans envisage passenger numbers quadrupling from 1.9m a year now to around 8 million by 2030. They would see an extension and renovations to the terminal including a new immigration hall and an enlarged baggage reclaim area. The plans also include new multi-storey airport parking facility to provide extra spaces for travellers.
Passenger growth at the Vale of Glamorgan hub would lead to the creation of around 2000 jobs, awider range of long and short haul destinations including those within Wales and structural changes to the airport including a new taxiway extension for the runway.
One of the biggest problems the airport may face, however, is how to transport the increased passenger numbers to and from the airport. With poor transport links, the 1.9 million passengers currently using the airport each year must either travel on congested commuter routes, or use public transport links, considered poor compared to those offered by other major airports across the UK.
As such improved rail and road links make up a major part of the masterplan. Although all solutions are still on the drawing board they could include the creation of a new road link between the M4 and the A48 at Sycamore Cross to avoid jams and bottlenecks. Developments are also planned to rail links.
Airport managing director Jon Horne said he was unable to place a precise figure on how much the development would eventually cost, adding: 'Over the scheme of things and in today's prices, you are probably looking at something in excess of £100 million over 25 years.'
The plans will go to public consultation over the next six weeks before being finalised for the Department of Transport.
