Cardiff off to a flying start in 2016
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 eight 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.
“Twenty fifteen 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 five 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, 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.