Passenger growth but still below pre‑COVID peak
Cardiff Airport has reported one of its strongest summers in recent years, with 928,000 passengers travelling through the terminal in the 12 months to September 2025 — a 5.3% increase on the previous year.
Ceri Mashlan, Director of Operations, 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.”
While the growth is welcome, it remains well below the 1.6 million passengers recorded in 2019, before the pandemic slashed demand.
Airlines expand leisure routes
The recovery has been driven by Ryanair and TUI. Ryanair marked 10 years at Cardiff with its biggest‑ever summer schedule and will continue with winter flights to Alicante, Dublin and Tenerife.
TUI is basing a second aircraft at Cardiff this winter, adding long‑haul sunshine destinations such as Cancún and Fuerteventura, plus ski flights to Chambéry and Salzburg. A fourth aircraft is planned for summer 2026, with new routes to Faro and Hurghada.
Edinburgh link under threat
The airport confirmed that Loganair will withdraw its Cardiff–Edinburgh service from January 2026 for operational reasons. The route has been popular with both business and leisure travellers, and management say they are already in talks with other airlines to restore the link.
Missing long‑haul connections
Noticeably absent from the airport’s update was any mention of the Qatar Airways Doha service, suspended during COVID and once hailed as a “game‑changer” for Welsh connectivity. Its absence leaves Cardiff without a Middle East hub link.
Cardiff also remains without a transatlantic route. The last direct US service — Norwegian’s short‑lived New York JFK flights — ended in 2018.
Welsh Conservative MS Andrew RT Davies said earlier this year:
“Cardiff Airport is withering on the vine while ministers sit on their hands. Every other UK hub has seen Qatar Airways return, yet Wales is still waiting. This once‑promising international link has been left to stagnate.”
Investment and leadership change
The airport highlighted the near‑completion of its runway rehabilitation project and the appointment of Swissport as a new cargo handling partner.
A new chief executive, Jon Bridge, takes over in November, following years of political scrutiny over Welsh Government subsidies and route cuts. As Swansea Bay News has previously reported, the airport has faced criticism from opposition politicians and legal challenges from Bristol Airport over state support.
Cardiff vs Bristol: a tale of two airports
Cardiff’s 928,000 passengers compare with over 10.7 million at Bristol Airport in 2024, with forecasts of around 11 million this year. Bristol offers 117+ direct destinations in 34 countries, including long‑haul links to North America and the Middle East. Cardiff, by contrast, has 38 direct routes, heavily weighted towards leisure destinations.
| Airport | Passengers (2025) | Destinations | Long‑haul links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff | 928,000 | 38 | None (no US/Middle East) |
| Bristol | ~11 million | 117+ in 34 countries | North America, Middle East |
Connectivity challenges ahead
Cardiff Airport’s summer growth shows signs of recovery, but the absence of scheduled, long‑haul connectivity and the loss of Edinburgh flights underline the challenges ahead. For new chief executive Jon Bridge, restoring strategic routes — particularly to the Middle East and North America — will be as important as building on the leisure market if Cardiff is to compete with its larger neighbour across the Severn.
