Cardiff International Airport (CWL)

Introduction

Cardiff International Airport is the only airport in Wales that offers scheduled, low fare and charter carriers. Over 2 million passengers are handled by Cardiff International Airport every year. Located about 12 miles (19 kilometres) southwest of Cardiff city centre, It serves Cardiff and the southern Wales area.

Facilities and Services

Cardiff International Airport can offer its passengers flights to several scheduled and seasonal chartered destinations, including domestic, European and transatlantic ones.
Cardiff International Airport has one terminal that provides passengers with a departure lounge containing a moderate range of retail and catering outlets. Cardiff International Airport also has currency exchange facilities; car hire representatives and information desks to meet arriving passengers needs.
Cardiff International Airport has an exclusive Business Lounge. Open to both business and leisure passengers, for a small fee passengers can enjoy business facilities such as fax; photocopying and Internet access. Passengers can also take advantage of complimentary drinks and snacks in a quiet and relaxing atmosphere.

Getting To The Airport

By road - Cardiff International Airport is 10 miles from Junction 33 on the M4. Exit at Junction 33 and follow the A4232. Take the first exit off the A4232 at Culverhouse Cross and follow signs to the airport along the A4050 and A4226.
By rail - A rail link connects the terminal to Cardiff Central via a free shuttle bus to and from Rhoose Cardiff International Station. Trains run in each direction every hour to Cardiff Central Station and Bridgend, with onward connections to other destinations on the United Kingdom rail network.
By bus/coach - The National Express Coach Service operates regular direct services to Cardiff Central Bus Station, where buses, trains and taxis are then available to Cardiff International Airport. Cardiff Bus service X91 operates between Cardiff (Central Station) and Cardiff International Airport hourly on Monday to Saturday daytime and every two hours during the daytime on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays. Additionally, EST Transport operates an hourly evening Monday to Saturday service 95 on behalf of Vale of Glamorgan Council between Cardiff (Central Station) and Cardiff International Airport via Barry and Dinas Powys. X91 Fares between Cardiff (Central Station) and Cardiff International Airport.

Parking at the Airport

There is a business and short stay car park, close to the terminal building, at which the first 20 minutes of parking is free.
There is also a long stay car park on site with a courtesy shuttle bus running continuously to and from the Terminal building.
Alternatively a nearby off-airport parking facility offers a Park & Ride service to meet your parking needs. To make a booking to secure a space at any of these car parks, via carparkinguk.co.uk.

History of Cardiff Airport

During the Second World War the Air Ministry requisitioned land at Rhoose in the rural Vale of Glamorgan to provide a wartime training base for RAF Spitfire pilots. Between 1931 and 1954, Cambrian Airways, a major Welsh airline started operations at Pengam Moors before moving to Rhoose. During the 1950s the potential for commercial development was identified with Aer Lingus commencing a service to Dublin in 1952. The new terminal building was opened and flights to France, Belfast and Cork began. As the holiday charter business expanded, it resulted in over 100,000 passengers passing through Cardiff Airport in 1962.

The first transatlantic passenger flight from Cardiff took place in 1971. During The 70’s further investment led to the development of the facilities and in addition, the main runway was extended in length to 7,000 feet, which meant that the airport could accommodate wide-bodied aircraft.

In 1986 the runway was extended a further 750 feet and as a result, more business was attracted to the airport in the form of new generation jet aircraft. Cardiff was now able to handle 747 jumbo jets.

A series of development projects started in 1993, including expansion and modernisation of the International Departures Lounge, plus modification of the roadway access to the Terminal, and construction of a new security access point. By August 1994 the airport was handling an annual total of 1 million passengers.