Air network to connect North Wales and Cardiff.

A NETWORK of air services from North Wales to Cardiff could be established with Assembly support it emerged last night.

Welsh Assembly Transport Minister Andrew Davies will launch a consultation on proposals to create scheduled intra-Wales air services at Cardiff Airport on Monday.

The Assembly commissioned a detailed study of how air services could improve transport links within Wales,.

It outlines a number of possible route networks,assesses the suitability of Welsh airports for scheduled operations and considers the broader economic and environmental impacts of developing such services.

A similar study commissioned by the Westminster government five years ago concluded an air service linking north and south Wales could be viable.

London-based consultants Llewelyn Davies' report -commissioned by Welsh Secretary Peter Hain -found there is ``considerable suppressed demand'' for a service between the north west and Cardiff International Airport.

Jon Horne,managing director of the Airport and Ray Mann,chair of AirNet Wales, will also attend the consultation launch and express support for the concept of intra-Wales air services Meanwhile Air Wales and BMIBaby have formed an agreement to work together on some routes from Cardiff Airport as well as share marketing and selling opportunities through bmibaby's website.