Cardiff Airport has taken another hit after an airline that has operated from the Welsh capital for over 13 years quietly pulled its flights for the coming winter season.
The withdrawal marks a significant blow for the airport, which has spent years trying to rebuild passenger numbers and attract new routes. Losing an operator with such a long history at Cardiff is exactly the kind of setback the airport can do without as it battles to stay competitive with Bristol and other nearby alternatives.
The airline has confirmed it will not be running services from Cardiff this winter, with no word yet on whether those flights will return in future seasons. For passengers who relied on those routes, it means either making alternative arrangements or heading further afield to catch their flights.
Cardiff Airport has faced a tough road over the past several years. Passenger numbers have never fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, and the airport has struggled to convince airlines to commit to Welsh routes when larger English airports sit just across the border. Bristol Airport in particular continues to draw Welsh travellers away, offering a wider range of destinations and more frequent services.
The Welsh Government, which owns Cardiff Airport after buying it back in 2013, has repeatedly stressed its commitment to growing the airport and making it a viable hub for Wales. Ministers have pointed to new routes and investment as signs of progress, but moves like this latest withdrawal make that progress feel fragile.
For people living in south Wales, the appeal of Cardiff Airport is obvious. Nobody wants to drive an hour or more to Bristol, pay for parking, and deal with a much busier terminal if they can avoid it. But the reality is that airlines go where the passenger numbers are, and Cardiff has to keep proving itself to operators.
The loss of a 13-year partner is not just a practical problem, it is also a confidence problem. When airlines leave, it sends a message to other operators and to travellers that the airport is struggling. Turning that narrative around takes time and consistent effort.
Airport bosses will be hoping this is a temporary blip rather than the start of a wider retreat. Seasonal adjustments are common across the industry, and some airlines do scale back winter operations at smaller airports before returning when demand picks up again in spring and summer. Whether that will be the case here remains to be seen.
What is clear is that Cardiff Airport needs stability and growth, not more uncertainty. Every cancelled route and every airline departure makes the task of convincing Welsh travellers to choose Cardiff over Bristol just that little bit harder.
The Welsh Government will face fresh questions about its strategy for the airport and what it is doing to secure long-term airline commitments. Simply owning the airport is not enough if the routes keep disappearing.