Cityjet announces end to Cardiff services

CityJet has today announced that it is to end its services from Cardiff to Edinburgh and Paris from June 30th. This arises after a decision by Cardiff Airport’s authorities to enter into a support agreement with another airline to serve these two routes in direct competition with CityJet.

Cathal O’Connell, Chief Commercial Officer of CityJet said: “Both business and leisure interests in Wales welcomed us to Cardiff in January 2014 when these routes were abandoned by the previous operator. Since then we have carried over 100,000 customers on these services. We have invested in building our presence in the marketplace, including the upgrading of the aircraft from a 50-seater to 70-seater in March 2015 and the establishment of a crew base at Cardiff by Stobart Air, who operate the services on our behalf”.

“We can fully understand the desire of the airport to build its network. What we cannot accept is Cardiff Airport enticing another airline to provide service on a bundle of routes which include two routes already operated by Cityjet from Cardiff.  The fact that the other airline’s flight timings are almost identical to Cityjet’s questions what benefit Cardiff Airport management sought to achieve from this venture.

Competition is not a problem, but competition should be based on a level playing surface and not one where an airport clearly favours one airline over others “.

Cityjet will be in contact with affected customers regarding the ending of the service.”

Dublin, Monday, 18th May, 2015