A flying start to 2016

Passenger numbers continue to grow for 8th consecutive month

Cardiff Airport records its 8th consecutive month of growth with passenger numbers for the month of January totalling almost 60,000 which is a 42% increase on January 2015. This sustained level of growth has not been seen since 2006 and is set to continue into 2016.

This follows 2015 ending on a high note, with passenger numbers growing by 56% in December compared to the same month in 2014, and over 64,000 passengers flying over the festive period.

The 8 months of growth from June 2015, averaging 30% per month are due to strong load factors on scheduled airlines including Flybe, KLM, Vueling and Aer Lingus plus strong charter performances with Thomson and Thomas Cook.

Month 2015-16 % growth from previous year Passenger numbers June 12% 133,137 July 8% 139,805 August 10% 149,230 September 21% 150,477 October 62% 149,823 November 32% 65,040 December 56% 64,220 January 42% 59,715

Passenger numbers in 2015 were +13% with 1.16 million passengers travelling through Wales National Airport.

Travellers are taking advantage of an increased choice of destinations, more availability and better timings on key routes plus airlines offering greater value for money to fly from Cardiff.

Debra Barber, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer at Cardiff Airport, said:

“To achieve this level of growth in the demanding winter months is hugely positive. Our airlines not only offer Welsh holiday makers flights to the sun, but also to the snow with ski flights performing above expectations. Increasingly the choice of flights is encouraging business travellers to fly from Cardiff all year round, enjoying the convenience of flying locally. “2015 has been a real turning point for Cardiff Airport. We’ve had lots of exciting developments including a new base for Flybe with 14 routes on offer, as well as consistently strong performances from airlines including Thomson, KLM, Vueling, Aer Lingus and Thomas Cook. “Looking ahead to the coming year we are confident we will build on this success. We continue to work with new and incumbent airlines to offer more travel choices for our customers and we will continue to enhance the passenger journey with a new departures area opening in summer 2016. “Cardiff Airport is proudly flying the flag for Wales every day of the year.”

The top 5 fastest growing routes in 2015 were:

Paris with Flybe

Faro with Flybe and Thomson

Düsseldorf with Flybe

Arrecife (Lanzarote) with Thomson

Dublin with Aer Lingus and Flybe

New routes added in 2015 included Antalya (with Thomas Cook); Milan, Munich and Cork (with Flybe); Montego Bay (charter cruise flights with Thomson) and Venice (charter flights on behalf of P&O cruises).

Looking ahead to 2016, Cardiff Airport will continue on this positive path to passenger growth. Flybe will begin its new flights to Verona once a week, while flights to Milan and Faro will increase to four times a week in peak season. Charter flights to Cancun and Orlando will depart during the summer with Thomas Cook. Winter 2016 will see new direct cruise flights to Dubai with Thomson and P&O Cruises will continue with another programme of cruise flights to the Caribbean.