In response to a UK government White Paper on air transport, Cardiff International Airport have unveiled a 24-year expansion strategy costing £100m, reports the BBC.

The Cardiff plan would see the terminal building being extended as well as the construction of a new multi-storey car park.  In an attempt to close the gap with rival Bristol International Airport (which has its own long-term expansion plan), Cardiff is looking to quadruple passenger numbers from 1.9m a year to around eight million by 2030.

The 24-year masterplan is a response to a UK government White Paper on air transport asking airport managers across the country to predict how they would cope with a rise in passenger numbers.

The cost of the new development has been estimated as being over £100m which would be met by the airport's owner ACDL.

Soaring ambition

Cardiff airport managing director Jon Horne admitted Cardiff had lagged behind the rapid growth enjoyed by Bristol in recent years but said they were moving forward and ready to "hit above our weight".  In particular, he commented that Cardiff has plans to develop new routes to Germany, Italy and Scandinavia.

The issue of access was a central concern of the plan, with improved public transport and roads needed.

The airport intends holding a series of public meetings over the next six weeks before its ideas are presented to the Department for Transport.

Environmental impact

Jon Horne said: "Unlike many other airports, we do not expect to need more land nor create significant environmental impact from our current premises.  In addition, judicious use of public transport with intelligently developed road and rail access will also minimise the effects on our surroundings."

He added that planes taking off over the sea or agricultural land would mean that only a limited area would have to suffer increased noise levels with no significant impact on local schools and hospitals.

But Julian Rosser from the environment group Friends of the Earth Cymru was critical of the plans: "We are facing an international crisis of climate change and aviation is the main source of carbon dioxide," he said.  "We need to reduce it rather than increase it."