Will air link really take off?

A day off from the Assembly election campaign today to join passengers on the inaugural flight of the much subsidised Cardiff to Valley air link.
Just when I thought I could escape politics for a few hours, the Lib Dems e-mailed a Press Release declaring they would scrap the £3.6m air subsidy and plough more money into North-South rail links.

The hour-long flight, costing a standard £49.99 or as little as £15 on discounted tickets, compared to the AA estimated cost for a standard car trip of 205 miles of £49.20, and journey time of four hours 40 minutes.
A train leaving Cardiff at 11.20am would take five hours 10 minutes to reach Holyhead at a standard single fare of £59.90 or advance saver ticket £16.50.
The air link will receive a 50% subsidy from the Welsh Assembly Government and European Union.
Optimists for the Highland Airways service believe it could be the start, with further air links to Dublin, or even Stanstead from RAF Valley in the future.
Pessimists are asking whether the service via an 18-seater aircraft twice a day, can really make money in the longer term.
I arrived back in Cardiff to be asked whether I would use the service again and I'm not too sure. There did not seem to be many facilities yet at Valley for the onward journey, such as taxis, bus services or hire cars.
But then my conscience was also pricked as I clutched my goody bag containing an inaugural flight certificate, Ynys Mon council tie, guide books, Halen Mon Sea Salt and miniature Toffoc toffee vodka.
The carbon footprint left by my day's flying?
Carbon dioxide emission figures for Cardiff to Valley based on a 201mile journey were: car - 144.72kg CO2; train - 40.2kg CO2; Plane - 349.74kg CO2.
To cap it all, First Minister Rhodri Morgan will also travel the length of Wales on Thursday - by rail.
He will travel from Cardiff to Bangor, via Abergavenny, Wrexham and Flint to 'highlight Labour's investments in transport in Wales and its plan to ensure easier, greener and safer travel for all'.