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Rugby fever hits Cardiff Airport
10 February 2005
Cardiff International Airport is bracing itself for the first Six Nations Italian rugby airlift this week as more than 2,000 Welsh rugby supporters will be flying to Rome for Wales' second International clash with Italy on Saturday 12 February.
Around 1,200 passengers will fly out of Cardiff International
Airport on Thursday 10 February including the Welsh Rugby Team and
WRU representatives. The remaining passengers will depart on Friday
11 February.
Nine aircraft with major airlines including Monarch, First Choice,
Thomas Cook and Jetex have been specially chartered by local travel
companies including John Cory Sports Travel, Travel City Sports,
Robert Davies Sports Travel and WRU Travel Services.
In addition to Cardiff's regular scheduled and charter flights and
the majority of supporters flying out to Rome on Thursday, the
total number of departing passengers will total approximately 4,000
for that day alone.
S.A.Brain, the official sponsor of the Welsh rugby team, has also
done its best to ensure the team and their supporters have a good
send-off this week. The leading Welsh brewer has decked the airport
with banners, posters and bunting, kitted out bar staff with Welsh
jerseys and installed ale shrines on bars throughout the airport -
all in an attempt to recreate a positive atmosphere for airport
users.
Commenting on the airlift, Cardiff Airport Managing Director Jon
Horne said, "International Rugby airlifts are always major
occasions here at Cardiff Airport and the atmosphere is absolutely
buzzing. All Airport staff will be on hand to ensure passengers and
fans experience an enjoyable start to their journey."
According to Brains' marketing manager, Stewart Dobson, the brewers
are working closely with airport staff to give fans a positive
send-off:
"Following the superb atmosphere in Cardiff during last weekend's
game we wanted to ensure the fans didn't feel that they were
leaving it all behind when they fly out to Italy this week.
"We've created a 'positive' and buoyant environment for them to
enjoy before they leave for Rome and we sincerely hope the
atmosphere in the airport will give the fans a great send-off."
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