Ever been drawn to the land of Mustard, Alan Partridge and Delia Smith? Yes?, Well in that case we have some great news for you. Links Air and Cardiff Airport have announced that from April there will be a daily (Mon-Fri) service from Cardiff (CWL) to Norwich (NWI) operated by a Links Air Jetstream 31 capable of carrying up to 18 people on the route.
Whilst other airports are looking to sunnier climes in the lucrative holiday and business market we must applaud Cardiff Airport and Links Air for bucking the trend and cornering the Wales – Norfolk market before the likes of Ryanair or Easyjet muscle in. After all, Cardiff Management team did promise us new routes and they have certainly delivered.
However the lucrative route has left some members of the Wales Air Forum calling “FOUL!” and claiming it’s “in breach of European Law on state subsidy”. Why? Because the Welsh Government (Owners of Cardiff Airport) subsidies the Links Air route between North and South Wales. Quite how that means the Norwich route is also subsidised baffles us but WAF know best.
Cardiff Airport was given a £3.5m loan from the Welsh Government in November 2014 to develop new routes from Cardiff Airport. This is the first part of a £13m fund available to them.
Links Air’s service to NWI starts in April 2015.
