Vueling will not fly between Cardiff Airport and either Alicante or Malaga this winter.
It comes a day after the airport was named one of five finalists in a global award voted for by airlines, judged on how well airports win and grow new services.
The Spanish low-cost airline, part of the IAG group that owns British Airways, confirmed the withdrawal in a statement to Swansea Bay News.
“Our route between Alicante and Cardiff will not operate during the 2026 winter season,” it said, adding that it “continuously evaluates any opportunities that may arise in the future”.
The airline said it constantly analyses its network and schedule “to adapt our offer to the connectivity needs of each route”.
What it means if you are booked
Cardiff Airport said it was disappointed by the decision, and told passengers with bookings to take it up with the airline.
“We would encourage any customers affected by Vueling’s decision to contact the airline directly regarding their booking and to explore the alternative travel options available from Cardiff,” a spokesperson said.
The airport said Alicante remains a popular destination from Cardiff, with TUI and Ryanair both continuing to offer direct flights there this winter.
“We remain focused on working with our airline partners to grow our route network and give customers across Wales greater choice from Cardiff,” the spokesperson added.
Twelve years at Cardiff, and no word yet on next summer
Vueling has flown from Wales for more than a decade, running two Cardiff routes to Spain, Alicante and Malaga.
When it added Malaga flights last year, the airport’s head of business development called the airline “a key airline partner”.
The Malaga route is going too. Vueling later confirmed that neither its Malaga nor its Alicante service from Cardiff will operate during the 2026 winter season.
On whether it will fly from Cardiff again next summer, the airline said it was “still too early to confirm our plans at this stage”.
A week of two halves for the airport
Cardiff is shortlisted in the under five million passengers category at the Routes World Awards, 28 years after its only win, with the winner announced in Frankfurt on 22 October.
The past year brought WestJet’s direct Toronto service, a fourth TUI aircraft based at Cardiff, and six new sunshine and ski routes.
The airport passed a million passengers in 12 months this spring for the first time since Covid. It remains around two thirds of the way back to pre-pandemic numbers, and long-haul carrier Qatar Airways has not returned.
The route push is funded in part by £205.2m awarded by the Welsh Government, which has owned the airport since 2013. Bristol Airport lost a challenge to that subsidy and was reported in June to be seeking permission to fight on at the Court of Appeal.
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