Vueling

[Jerry]

I’m becoming more worried as each day goes by that this may well be the case. There’s nothing on sale for S26 as yet, and they normally have at least up until June on sale by now…although if you were going to quietly leave an airport you’d do so before adding more winter flights wouldn’t you? Or maybe not.

I am a massive fan of VY and they have been loyal to CWL for many years - so I pray that FR haven’t shoved them out the door.

Yep usually Alicante is onsale by now. It is a concern.

 

[Samdorob]

Other than Gatwick and Manchester Vueling haven’t released any S26 routes for other UK airports (from what I can see). Looking back on this thread, the summer schedule AGP from Cardiff was released on the 12th of November. IF they plan on running it I think we can expect something next week. I’m weary because Alicante is usually released earlier than this.

 

[Jerry]

Other than Gatwick and Manchester Vueling haven’t released any S26 routes for other UK airports (from what I can see). Looking back on this thread, the summer schedule AGP from Cardiff was released on the 12th of November. IF they plan on running it I think we can expect something next week. I’m weary because Alicante is usually released earlier than this.

Yep it is concerning. The airport doesn't want to lose Vueling. A daily A320 is a decent amount of passengers for a small airport.

 

[MrFenner]

I think we need to accept that it’s mid-November and there seems to be no movement in the schedule for VY for next summer.

My take on it is that FR have come in and taken over the entire market that VY once had a monopoly on - however, since Covid they have definitely retracted their business model and CWL had become just a 2 route operation.

I pray this is not the case because I’m very much a fan of VY - somehow I feel this may be the end of the road for them…

In the grand scheme of things, there is no loss of routes and just a slight loss in passenger numbers/frequencies thanks to FR!

As always, we live in hope.

 

[Jerry]

My take on it is that FR have come in and taken over the entire market that VY once had a monopoly on - however, since Covid they have definitely retracted their business model and CWL had become just a 2 route operation.

There's doubting that Ryanair will have had some effect but they've been operating alongside them for a good few years now but putting Malaga onsale so late all the time can't help but I also wonder if Jet2 at Bristol has effected them as well. Losing essentially what is a daily A320 load of passengers will have an effect especially if the airport wants to get back over the 1 million passengers mark in 2026 but losing 2 airlines in 2026 wouldn't be great pr as well even if the airport gains a new one. If they do leave hopefully CWL can persuade Ryanair to replace the frequency.

 

[MrFenner]

I think we need to accept that it’s mid-November and there seems to be no movement in the schedule for VY for next summer.

My take on it is that FR have come in and taken over the entire market that VY once had a monopoly on - however, since Covid they have definitely retracted their business model and CWL had become just a 2 route operation.

I pray this is not the case because I’m very much a fan of VY - somehow I feel this may be the end of the road for them…

In the grand scheme of things, there is no loss of routes and just a slight loss in passenger numbers/frequencies thanks to FR!

As always, we live in hope.

I eat my words!

VY S26 on sale now.

But a very sporadic random schedule.

Hey, at least they’re hanging around…

 

[Jerry]

Atm from 19/6/26-16/9/26 Alicante is 2 weekly with no Saturday flight.
Malaga is from the 14/6/26-16/9/26 is 1 weekly with flights only on a Sunday.
Good news that they're staying but it's not 3 weekly all the way through. Hopefully they'll add flights at a later date.

 

[Samdorob]

Hopefully they'll add flights at a later date.

Yes I’d imagine they will. Last year they added a bunch of Malaga flights later on.

They always puzzle me how they shrink their schedule during the peak season, but I guess they feel the aircraft can make more money elsewhere. The most important thing is they’ve stuck around.

 

[Jerry]

Yes I’d imagine they will. Last year they added a bunch of Malaga flights later on.

They always puzzle me how they shrink their schedule during the peak season, but I guess they feel the aircraft can make more money elsewhere. The most important thing is they’ve stuck around.

Yes it could be that the aircraft are being used to provide a seasonal increase on other routes. Hopefully they'll add more aircraft to the bases and increase the flights to Cardiff.

At the moment Alicante is 3 weekly on Wednesdays, Friday and Saturdays except from 19/6/26-16/9/26 where it is 2 weekly with no Saturday flight.
Malaga is 3 weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays except from the 14/6/26-16/9/26 where it is 1 weekly with flights only on a Sunday.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

It baffles me how Vueling manage their scheduling. They've missed out on months worth of bookings by releasing so late.
The saving grace may be the timings are pretty good and even their late release Malaga flights last year still appeared to do OK. I wouldn't be surprised if the Jun-Sept flights go back to the standard schedule or as they did last year, they release even more days.

It seems the same speculation happens every year because of their late release, but it's good to see they aren't afraid to go up against FR.

 

[Jerry]

It seems the same speculation happens every year because of their late release, but it's good to see they aren't afraid to go up against FR.

It just does seem though that they release later every year though.
It is good that they have put Summer 2026 onsale and are still committed to Cardiff but as you said they must have lost a lot of forward bookings.

 

[Seasider]

Apparently the trend nowadays is people book late, so they may not have lost out too much.

 

[Jerry]

Apparently the trend nowadays is people book late, so they may not have lost out too much.

Fingers crossed

 

[Samdorob]

Vueling have added Alicante flights for November 2026. 3 per week which suggests 3 per week for next winter.

 

[MrFenner]

Soooo late they were with S26 then bam! November 2026

Great news. Shows they’re confident in CWL, even with 2 carriers on the route.

 

[Jerry]

Soooo late they were with S26 then bam! November 2026

Great news. Shows they’re confident in CWL, even with 2 carriers on the route.

Yeah it is odd considering S26 was so late but now W26 released well in advance.

 

[Samdorob]

Yeah it is odd considering S26 was so late but now W26 released well in advance.

It seems odd to only release one month - it would usually be all of winter or up to early January.

 

[Jerry]

It seems odd to only release one month - it would usually be all of winter or up to early January.

Most airlines do operate up to 11 months in advance though. It's only the holiday airlines that release earlier.

 

[Samdorob]

Most airlines do operate up to 11 months in advance though. It's only the holiday airlines that release earlier.

True. It’s surprisingly early anyway considering it’s a few weeks since they released summer. Perhaps hoping to get ahead of Ryanair on early bookings. Can’t complain either way.

 

[Jerry]

Extra dates for Alicante and Malaga from Vueling
Alicante
Thu 26th March
Thu 30th April
Thu 21st May
Sun 31st May
Malaga
Mon 4th May
Mon 25th May
Info from Cardiff Airport Flights and Deals