Patriotism alone will not be enough to turn round the fortunes of Cardiff Airport.

As a campaign group, our aspiration since day one has been a world class airport for a world class city. We have maintained that airports are good for economies bringing in both tourist and business income.

We welcome the decision of the Welsh Government to buy Cardiff Airport subject to due diligence. We hope this will herald a sea change in the fortunes of our international gateway to Wales.

In order for this to work a commercial approach has to be adopted by the Welsh Government aimed at driving passenger footfall up. The footfall needs to be not just Welsh tourists seeking sun, it needs to consist of foreign tourists coming to Wales.

So whilst we feel that the airport will be in the hands of someone who cares about it, they still need to make a success of it and they don’t have any experience of running an airport.

In order for the airport to flourish once more, we suggest the following five point plan.

• Wales needs to be sold to the world. Too many people don’t know where it is.
• The Minister for Business and the Airport need to target markets which will enable airlines to be confident that routes are viable.
• The success in attracting Vueling to Cardiff needs to be built on, so more 'Vuelings' will come to Cardiff.
• Air Passenger Duty needs to be devolved as this would give a competitive advantage to Wales.
• Longer term public transport links need to be improved (an hourly bus and train service just ain't good enough)

Build it and they will come.

Lawrence & John (FlyCardiff Campaign)

PS - Have you ever driven to Bristol Airport, roads are a nightmare ? Cardiff is a  breeze in comparison.