Cardiff Airport Plans To Cement Position As A Gateway To A Thriving Capital

Our Route Opportunities feature explores the latest unserved and underserved routes promoted through Routes 360, providing supporting information for airline network planners to consider and capitalize on.

Just 12 mi. from Cardiff’s vibrant city center, Cardiff Airport (CWL), wholly owned by the Welsh Government, is located within one of the UK’s most dynamic and fastest-growing capital cities. Serving a catchment of 6.8 million people, the airport operates 38 direct routes and is open 24/7/365 with no slot constraints, offering unparalleled flexibility for growth.

CWL has experienced strong momentum driven by high demand across both business and leisure travel. One of the airport’s key airline partners, TUI, continues to invest significantly in its Cardiff operation. The tour operator will base a second aircraft at CWL in Winter 2025/26, followed by a fourth aircraft in Summer 2026. This expansion will unlock new destinations including Hurghada, Faro, and Fuerteventura, while also increasing frequencies on high-demand routes such as Antalya, Gran Canaria, and Enfidha.

Further boosting capacity, Ryanair is operating its largest ever summer program, delivering an 18% year-on-year increase in departures with enhanced frequencies to top destinations like Dublin and Malaga. Vueling is also reinforcing its commitment to the Welsh capital, increasing its Malaga service to 5X- weekly from June 2025.

With Wales recording the second-highest increase in foreign direct investment of any UK region and welcoming over one million international visitors annually, the airport is ideally placed to support and scale with the region’s rising profile. Known for its breath-taking landscapes, rich culture, and major events, Wales continues to attract both tourists and investors alike.

Looking ahead, Cardiff Airport is focused on expanding its global network and strengthening its position in the cargo market, helping to unlock even greater opportunity for Cardiff, Wales, and the wider region

The airport has highlighted multiple unserved route opportunities on its Routes 360 profile, creating new possibilities for airlines looking to capitalize on Wales' growing aviation market.

Unserved:

• Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
• Dubai Internatioanl (DXB)
• Doha Hamad International (DOH)
• Istanbul Airport (IST)
• Barcelona El-Prat Airport (BCN)
• Glasgow Airport (GLA)
  New York (JFK)
• Greater Toronto Airports Authority (YYZ)
• Newcastle International Airport (NCL)
• Cork Airport (ORK)
• Jersey Airport (JER)

Underserved:

• Dublin Airport (DUB)
• Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
• Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
• Faro Airport (FAO)
• Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI)
• Malaga Airport (AGP)

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