News: New budget airline wants to set up base at Cardiff
Flights > News > # 1313 (12/06/2007)
The Welsh media has reported that a new budget airline aims to launch flights from Cardiff to Europe this autumn.
Tim Lee, managing director of the quirkily named Flyforbeans, says he has identified around 20 potential business and leisure destinations across the Continent currently not served from Cardiff. The airline plans to use a fleet of Boeing 737-300 aircraft, each seating up to 148 passengers.
BmiBaby is currently the main player at Cardiff, but there is no doubt that there is plenty more room for growth, and despite the domestic market approaching saturation point, you only have to look to the huge number of people from southeast Wales who use Bristol International to see the demand for new European routes from the region.
The problem a start-up airline like Flyforbeans faces is trying to compete on price, not only with an increasingly aggressive BmiBaby, but also with the no-frills kings ruling the roost at Bristol, Easyjet and Ryanair.
Lee said: “BmiBaby is a very large established player, led by some very capable people. We have no intention of kicking a hornet’s nest. There is more than enough room at Cardiff for both us to make a good living.”
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