Cardiff Airport has welcomed the launch of Wizz Air’s fourth base in the UK.
The airline will operate nine routes to sunshine destinations, with one A321 neo based at the airport.
The routes include Alicante, Faro, Heraklion, Palma de Mallorca, Larnaca, Lanzarote and Tenerife, with flights to Corfu planned to start in June, and to Sharm El Sheikh in November.
Wizz Air’s new base represents a significant investment in Cardiff Airport and the local region by creating over 40 direct jobs and over 250 indirect jobs. Connecting Wales with nine popular holiday destinations will provide a boost to the local economy by increasing the annual capacity of Cardiff Airport by over 330,000 seats.
The airline was also recently announced as the new title sponsor of the Cardiff Half Marathon, with the first Wizz Air Cardiff Half Marathon taking place on 2 October 2022. The sponsorship builds on Wizz Air’s successful partnerships with running events across Europe, in cities such as Budapest, Skopje and Bucharest, and demonstrates its strong commitment to Cardiff, as well as promoting inclusive sports tourism and an active lifestyle.
“This is a very exciting time for Wizz Air in the UK, as we celebrate the opening of our highly anticipated base at Cardiff Airport,” said Marion Geoffroy, Managing Director, Wizz Air UK. “By bringing our new and efficient Airbus aircraft to Cardiff, the wings of which are manufactured in Wales, we are providing a significant boost to the Welsh economy and creating jobs. The base, which is our fourth in the UK, will bring further connectivity to the region, with passengers in Wales and the South West of England now able to take advantage of our ultra-low fares to ‘fly local’ to their favourite getaways. We look forward to the upcoming summer season, as we welcome new passengers with affordable, direct flights to popular holiday destinations.”
Spencer Birns, Chief Executive Officer, Cardiff Airport, commented: “We’re delighted to welcome the opening of the Wizz Air base, as it marks a real turning point for the airport in its post-COVID revival plans. Our customers in Wales have been asking for a more cost-effective choice for many years. What makes this launch so exciting is that Wizz Air is an ultra-low-cost airline that will help build competition and offer improved choice to people living in Wales.”
