Cardiff – Anglesey

The Cardiff – Anglesey route, flown by Eastern Airways as a Public Service Obligation (PSO) supported by the Welsh government remains closed until at least 23 February.  It is said to be “under review” although the contract runs until February 2023.

The Humberside-based airline took over the route in March 2017 and prior to the pandemic had seen growth of around 40% in passengers, mainly vacational travellers.

A Cardiff Airport spokesperson said the airport "remains open and available to facilitate the PSO service when the Welsh government is ready to restart it."  Cardiff Airport also manages the civil passenger terminal at Anglesey (RAF Valley) on behalf of the Welsh government.  

Eastern has indicated that whilst a single service would be a welcome start, the route works best as a twice daily operation enabling passengers to make the journey in a daytime window not really possible by road.  The Welsh government’s decision to allow staff to work from home has meant that civil servants no longer have the requirement to travel the length of the principality. This problem is also associated with business travellers.

By road the 220 mile somewhat tortuous journey takes at least four hours with a return journey not practical in a day. A 29-seat Jetstream 41 is normally used on the route with a flight time of just under one hour.

www.easternairways.com

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

Michael Bartlett, United Kingdom

Back in 2012 (a leap year) Eddie Mair of BBC Radio 4's PM programme invited listeners to spend the day February 29th doing something they had not done before. I chose to fly with Manx Airline from Cardiff to RAF Anglesey and back as a day out. The 53 minute afternoon flight out from Cardiff was aboard a Dornier 228 D-CMNX on lease from FLM Aviation. The 48 minute return flight was a Links Air BAe Jetstream 31 registration G-EIGG. The 137 mile flights each way were at reasonably low altitude and the views of Wales were magnificent. They reminded me of the short hops I had often enjoyed in Southern Africa and British Columbia in Canada. One of the souvenirs still held is the high quality glossy publication issued for passengers which included a list of attractive activities and places to visit on Anglesey. I have not yet flown with "Eastern" and might make a day out with them in February or as and when schedules between CWL and VLY start again.

David Starkie, United Kingdom

It's a great scenic route too, particularly as you near the northern end of the journey.