New jobs to touch down with bmibaby (From Barry And District News)

New jobs to touch down with bmibaby

MORE than 30 jobs and a host of cheap flights will be winging their way to Cardiff International Airport in the New Year.

The announcement that leading airline bmibaby is to extend its flight schedule to the increasingly popular destinations of Glasgow International and Belfast International and Amsterdam - thus creating a fistful of jobs for cabin crew in and around the airport - was made at a press conference in the Rhoose airport.

The award-winning company, which has been at CIA for three years, will also be flying a third Boeing 373 into the airport, increasing its number of flights to 150 a week.

The new routes are aimed at business and leisure passengers, said managing director of bmibaby, David Byron, who added that the company"s expansion in the airport is down to South Wales travellers" enthusiastic attitude towards low-cost travel.

bmibaby"s announcement came in the same week as Air Southwest, one of the the UK"s fastest growing low fares regional airline, launched flights to Newquay, Cornwall, and Manchester for just £19 one-way, both from CIA.

CIA"s managing director John Horne said the airport"s continual success was demonstrated in the expansion of other airlines announced over the last four months, the introduction of the rail link and plans to develop the infrastructure within the terminal.

He also said he believed that bmibaby"s announcement would encourage other airlines to expand.

"Success breeds success," he said.

"And other airlines will realise there is an opportunity there, and say "I want a piece of that action"."

"We welcome that competition, as competition keeps the business real."