Cardiff Airport - General Thread

[Jerry]

"In the 12 months to the end of September 2025, 928,000 passengers travelled through the Airport, a 5.3% increase on the previous year and flights were busier with more seats filled on services"

Passenger numbers rise following 'strong summer' at Cardiff Airport

Cardiff Airport has enjoyed a strong summer, with a rise in passengers following the introduction of new routes from Wales, although the good news has been tempered by reports that Loganair flights to Edinburgh will come to an end in 2026. In the 12 months to the end of September 2025, 928,000...

nation.cymru

 

[Nuffsaid]

Great article. Hoping something similar appears in Wales online with specific mention of increased cargo.

 

[Jerry]

Great article. Hoping something similar appears in Wales online with specific mention of increased cargo.

I imagine the title will include 'struggling airport sees an investment but loses major airline'

It is good to see the growth though
2026 will see Cardiff get back over the 1 million passengers mark and hopefully we'll see more growth from airlines like Ryanair and KLM reinstate the 3rd daily flight to Amsterdam and see some new airlines!

 

[Qing4theloo]

I still think if Farage's lot take control of the Senedd next year, they will flog the airport to the asset strippers.

I wonder if BA would be interested in buying it so they can continue to use their maintenance hangars? The whole airport would cost less than the price of a new A320 or B737. Whether they would consider continuing as a passenger airport is another matter.

 

[Nuffsaid]

I imagine the title will include 'struggling airport sees an investment but loses major airline'

It is good to see the growth though
2026 will see Cardiff get back over the 1 million passengers mark and hopefully we'll see more growth from airlines like Ryanair and KLM reinstate the 3rd daily flight to Amsterdam and see some new airlines!

It would be good to see EDI restored.
Other good to have would be CDG, BCN and JER.
Increase to 3 daily to AMS and DUB twice daily.

 

[Jerry]

I still think if Farage's lot take control of the Senedd next year, they will flog the airport to the asset strippers.

Who knows. They've rolled back on closing it to selling it. I don't think they'd be able to flog it to an asset stripper. They'd have to sell it to a company that wants to operate it as an airport and I expect that will take time and money.

As for BA they wouldn't want to own it. They just want a site that's open 24/7 so they fly in whenever they want. If Cardiff can't guarantee that I'd expect they'd look elsewhere to other airports.

It would be good to see EDI restored.
Other good to have would be CDG, BCN and JER.
Increase to 3 daily to AMS and DUB twice daily.

I honestly think Cardiff will struggle to get EDI back same with Jersey. Barcelona and Paris will be challenges as well.
I think if they could get AMS back 3 daily and Dublin 2 daily for weekends retain Vueling get a route like Mallorca then they'd have a good 2026 routes wise and anything else would be a massive bonus.

I'll add as well that if they can show that the airport is at close to breaking even that would be a boost as well.

 

[geoff]

Dragonfly registered a Cessna 550 Bravo G-SPJT on 1.9.25 as owners so we should be seeing it at CWL often in the near future. On another subject, KLM have been advertising their services from CWL on some of the TV film channels, quite a fairly long advert for an airport the size of CWL, perhaps they are re-thinking their number of daily flights, because their loads are good at the moment.

 

[Jerry]

quite a fairly long advert for an airport the size of CWL, perhaps they are re-thinking their number of daily flights, because their loads are good at the moment.

I believe they're doing that all over the UK just with the local airport

 

[geoff]

Rumours doing the rounds on Pprune of a new airline and route for CWL, with the deal already done and dusted maybe they started as a result of the post on X by Sean last week, it has also been the subject on BRS airport facebook page.

 

[Jerry]

Rumours doing the rounds on Pprune of a new airline and route for CWL, with the deal already done and dusted maybe they started as a result of the post on X by Sean last week, it has also been the subject on BRS airport facebook page.

It's the same rumour as the other week I believe.

 

[StanMan]

Re Geoff's post re

Dragonfly registered a Cessna 550 Bravo G-SPJT on 1.9.25 as owners so we should be seeing it at CWL often in the near future. On another subject, KLM have been advertising their services from CWL on some of the TV film channels, quite a fairly long advert for an airport the size of CWL, perhaps they are re-thinking their number of daily flights, because their loads are good at the moment.

KLM are advertising "Flying from Cardiff" very extensively on Discovery + - but it does seem to be a generic advert, with the local airport name being inserted by a bot dependant on the viewers' location!

 

[Jerry]

WalesOnline article

Cardiff Airport says it's all change as TUI and Ryanair reveal 2026 plans

There are a number of new things happening over the next few months

www.walesonline.co.uk

 

[Nuffsaid]

Damn! I cannot open the wales online article.

 

[Jerry]

Damn! I cannot open the wales online article.

Even if you could you probably couldn't read it for all the adverts.

 

[Em0866]

I copied and pasted the article for info

Cardiff Airport says it has enjoyed a strong summer season, with more passengers taking to the skies in routes from Wales than the year before. In the 12 months to the end of September this year, 928,000 passengers travelled through the airport which is a 5.3% increase on the previous year and flights were busier with more seats filled on services.

The airport, which has received large sums of Welsh Government investment, will see a number of changes coming into force over the coming months, including the cancellation of the Cardiff to Edinburgh route. An airport spokesperson said at the time: "The airport was disappointed to learn that for operational reasons outside its control, Loganair will withdraw its Cardiff – Edinburgh service from January 2026. “The route has been very popular with both business and leisure travellers and our teams are already in discussions with other airlines to restore this vital air link between Wales and Scotland as soon as possible.”

Looking ahead to next summer in 2026, TUI has confirmed plans to base a fourth aircraft at the airport and is launching new routes to Faro and Hurghada along with Fuerteventura which has been extended to after launching this winter season.

Ryanair marked 10 years of flying from the airport with its biggest-ever summer schedule, offering a choice of popular destinations across Europe and the low-cost airline is also expanding its choice this winter which is operating Alicante, Dublin and Tenerife.

Meanwhile, TUI is building further on its success, basing a second aircraft at Cardiff for Winter 2025. This means Welsh travellers have even more opportunities to enjoy some winter sunshine, with new destinations including Cancún and Fuerteventura.

Crystal Ski Holidays is returning for trips to Chambéry, French Alps for a second season, plus Salzburg in the Austrian Alps.

Work is also coming to an end on the runway rehabilitation project to ensure efficient operations for many years to come.

In addition, Swissport has been appointed as a new cargo handling partner, which the airport say will bring investment in upgraded facilities and equipment.

Jon Bridge will also be joining the airport as chief executive from November, and with more than 30 years’ experience across the retail, hospitality and transport sectors, Jon will focus on driving further growth, developing new business opportunities, and ensuring every passenger enjoys a warm Welsh welcome.

Director of operations at Cardiff Airport, Ceri Mashlan, said: "This has been one of our strongest summers in recent years, and it’s great to see more people choosing to fly local. "With continued investment, new routes and strong partnerships with our airlines, the future looks very bright for Wales’ national airport."

 

[Jerry]

I think Cardiff has just announced a new destination from P&O Cruises. Looking at P&O website Cardiff has departures to Barbados on 23/1/26, 30/1/26, 14/2/26, 6/11/26, 1/1/27, 16/1/27 and 3/12/27 and to Antigua 18/12/27 and 5/2/2028.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1981371339135926458

 

[geoff]

That's good news 6 flights from P&O for winter26/27, if TUI add extra cruises as well, besides their Cancun flights, it turn out to be the best winter for many years.

 

[Jerry]

That's good news 6 flights from P&O for winter26/27, if TUI add extra cruises as well, besides their Cancun flights, it turn out to be the best winter for many years.

3 as part of winter 2025/26, 3 as part of winter 2026/27 and 3 as part of winter 2027/28. With winter 2026 I believe there is a November date which is Hays Travel only.

 

[Samdorob]

I think Cardiff has just announced a new destination from P&O Cruises. Looking at P&O website Cardiff has departures to Barbados on 23/1/26, 30/1/26, 14/2/26, 6/11/26, 1/1/27, 16/1/27 and 3/12/27 and to Antigua 18/12/27 and 5/2/2028.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1981371339135926458

That’s great news. Do we know if these flights are cruise only, or are P&O charters also released for general sale after so long? Is it TUI who provide the flights?

I did check the P&O website and it was refreshing to see London and Cardiff listed as the two departure airports (for this particular cruise). Great for pulling folk in from over the border.

 

[Jerry]

That’s great news. Do we know if these flights are cruise only, or are P&O charters also released for general sale after so long? Is it TUI who provide the flights?

I did check the P&O website and it was refreshing to see London and Cardiff listed as the two departure airports (for this particular cruise). Great for pulling folk in from over the border.

They're cruise only. Flights will be operated TUI according to Cardiff Airport social media. I know it's only 2 flights in 2027/28 but still good to see a different destination.