Helvetic Airways was operating three services a week between the cities last winter, with a stop in Bristol.

BBC: Swiss airline Helvetic ends Cardiff winter flights

The aircraft targeted was a regular passenger flight operated by Helvetic Airways on behalf of Swiss, Switzerland's national airline.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Swiss International Air Lines, for which Helvetic operated the flight, said in a statement that the heist "was evidently aimed at valuables" on the plane, including diamonds.

WSJ: Multimillion Diamond Heist at Brussels Airport

At the time, there were about 20 passengers on board the aircraft, which was a regular passenger flight from Brussels to Zurich operated by Helvetic Airways on behalf of Swiss, Van der Cruysse said.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The Conservatives' assembly leader Andrew RT Davies said Helvetic's decision was "a wake-up call for a Welsh government who are hell-bent on using taxpayer money to fund the purchase of the airport, without presenting a convincing case for how they will make the acquisition work for the Welsh public".

BBC: Wales