Cityjet axes Cardiff routes in row with airport operator

Cityjet is axing its services from Cardiff to both Edinburgh and Paris after the Welsh airport backed a rival to the Irish airline on the two routes.

Cityjet said on Monday that it is cutting the two services from June 30th after Cardiff Airport’s authorities decided to support another airline to fly the routes in direct competition with the Dublin-based carrier.

Chief commercial officer, Cathal O’Connell, accused the airport of favouring one airline over others.

“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,” he said.

Mr O’Connell acknowledged that the airport wanted to build its network. “What we cannot accept is Cardiff Airport enticing another airline to provide a service on a bundle of routes which include two routes alreday operated by Cityjet,” he added.

Cityjet took over the routes last year after another carrier abandoned them. Its chief commercial officer said that it has carried 100,000 passengers on them since then.

In March it upgraded its craft to 70-seaters from 50-seaters while Stobart Air, which operates the services on its behalf, established a base there.