On Sunday, passenger lines to the security check at one stage went all along the departure hall in Terminal 2.

CNN: Software glitch delays London flights

Despite its appealingly decadent service (each passenger enjoys 21 square feet of space and can arrive at the terminal just 45 minutes before departure rather than the usual three hours for an international flight), Eos still suffers from a relatively low profile among affluent customers.

FORBES: No Rest For A Weary Start-Up

Spencer Birns, the airport's head of commercial operations, said it was expected that passenger numbers would "hit the very bottom" during 2012 as the full-year effect of bmibaby's departure was recorded.

BBC: Cardiff airport