Air Wales () was a Welsh airline based at Cardiff International Airport in Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan. It operated scheduled regional services within the United Kingdom, as well as to Ireland, Belgium and France. On 23 April 2006, Air Wales ceased all operations, citing "spiralling costs" and "aggressive competition" from larger low-cost airlines.
History
Air Wales was established in January 1997 with the assistance of property financier Roy Thomas and started operations in January 2000. Initially based at Pembrey Airport in west Wales and operating two Dornier 228 aircraft, Air Wales expanded to employ over 120 personnel, including 45 flight deck staff, 20 engineers and 20 cabin crew.
Operations transferred to Red Dragon House at the grounds of Swansea Airport, Fairwood Common, in October 2001."World Airlines Directory." Flight International. 16–22 March 2004. 78. Passenger numbers failed to reach the company's break-even levels and, after three years, Air Wales gave up all its Swansea routes. The airline decided to concentrate on routes out of Cardiff, moving operations to a new headquarters at Cardiff International Airport in October 2004.
In December 2005, bmibaby and Air Wales had a fallout leaving bmibaby to cancel a partnership between the two airlines. The partnership covered the routes Belfast and Glasgow which were operated by Air Wales.Air Wales and bmibaby fallout
During February 2006, Air Wales gave up all routes from Plymouth Airport to focus on more popular routes and international routes.
On 23 April 2006, the airline ceased all scheduled services with a loss of 80 jobs to focus on charter and cargo operations, however these operations never materialized and the aircraft were all sold to other airlines."Air Wales to cease operations on 23 April 2006" BBC News
Destinations Air Wales served 20 destinations across Europe. Country City Airport NotesBelgium Brussels Brussels Airport France Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Rennes Rennes–Saint-Jacques Airport Tillé Beauvais–Tillé Airport Jersey Saint Brelade Jersey Airport Ireland Cork Cork Airport Dublin Dublin Airport Waterford Waterford Airport United Kingdom Aberdeen Aberdeen Airport Belfast Belfast International Airport George Best Belfast City Airport Cardiff Cardiff Airport Exeter Exeter Airport Glasgow Glasgow Prestwick Airport Manchester Manchester Airport Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle International Airport Newquay Newquay Airport Plymouth Plymouth City Airport
Partnership with bmibaby Air Wales had a partnership with bmibaby to operate on the following routes:
Paris, France Cork, Ireland Belfast, Northern Ireland (suspended in March 2006) Jersey Glasgow, Scotland (suspended in March 2006)
Fleet
Air Wales originally operated Dornier 228 aircraft. These were replaced by a fleet of ATR-42-300 aircraft:UK CAA Aircraft Register
Aircraft Total Routes RemarksATR-42-3005regionalDornier 2282short haul regionalleasedU. Klee, jp airline-fleets international 2001/2002, page 163, Bucher & Co., Zurich Airport, Kloten, Switzerland, ISBN 3 85758 135 2
In March 2006, Air Wales fleet average age was 13.4 years.
See also List of defunct airlines of the United Kingdom
References
External links
Air Wales (Archive) Air Wales Photos