First Minister vows to help "rebrand and refresh" Cardiff Airport as new routes are announced

First Minister Carwyn Jones announced a new service between Cardiff and Malaga would take to the air next summer, run by operator Vueling. In his monthly press conference he said the Welsh Government will launch a new marketing campaign in Catalonia in an attempt to attract tourists from the Spanish region.

It was also announced today that a weekly charter flight between Vienna and Cardiff will run next summer with Austrian tour operator Prima Reisen.

Carwyn Jones was today chairing the latest meeting of the Commission for Economic Renewal and following the meeting said: "I want Cardiff Airport to realise its potential to be a modern, well connected success at the heart of our national infrastructure."

Earlier this month Swiss Airline Helvetic announced it would stop the service between Cardiff and Zurich this winter but, the Welsh Government said they are hopeful the service will resume next spring.

First Minister Carwyn Jones has in the past been critical of the site's appearance, but, today he also announced support to revamp the current terminal, stating there was an: "...approved programme to rebrand and refresh the airport in time for the 2013 summer season."

Last year, low cost airline BMI Baby announced it was pulling out of Cardiff. Today the First Minister said the business had been affected by this decision but, felt the Airport is now "moving in the right direction."