Cardiff International Airport (CWL)

Cardiff, GB 🇬🇧 Medium Airport Scheduled Service

ICAO

EGFF

IATA

CWL

Elevation

220 ft

Region

GB-WLS

Local Time

Airport Information

GPS Code: EGFF

Local Code: Not available

Location: 51.396702° N, -3.34333° E

Continent: EU

Type: Medium Airport

Keywords: Caerdydd Cardiff International Airport Maes Awyr Caerdydd Rhoose Y Rhws

Arrivals

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Departures

View outgoing flights

External Links

Official Website Wikipedia Live Flights

Nearby Points of Interest

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What Travelers Say

AI-Generated Summary Based on web research

Recent traveler reviews for Cardiff International Airport (CWL) indicate a mixed, yet often positive, experience, with a notable strength in staff friendliness. While some passengers commend the airport's efficiency and recent improvements, others express frustration over limited flight options and transportation challenges. Overall satisfaction appears to be improving, with a 2024 survey ranking it highly among UK airports for passenger recommendation.

What Travelers Love

Friendly and Efficient Staff: Many travelers consistently praise the airport staff for their kindness, helpfulness, and efficiency. A 2025 international study ranked Cardiff Airport 19th globally and 6th in the UK for positive staff mentions in reviews.
Fast Security and Check-in (often): Several reviews highlight quick and smooth experiences through security and check-in, with some reporting the entire process taking under 15 minutes, particularly during less busy periods. The implementation of Next Generation Security also allows passengers to keep liquids under 100ml and electronics in their hand luggage.
Efficient Parking Services: APH Cardiff Park & Ride and other parking options receive high ratings for their reliable service, secure facilities, friendly staff, and quick shuttle transfers to the terminal (5-7 minutes).
Improved Accessibility: The UK Civil Aviation Authority's 2025 Airport Accessibility Report upgraded Cardiff Airport's rating to "very good," reflecting improvements for travelers with reduced mobility.
ePassport Gates: The presence of ePassport gates helps eligible travelers clear border control faster.

Common Complaints

Limited Routes and Destinations: A frequent complaint is the scarcity of flight options and carriers compared to other regional airports, compelling many travelers to use larger alternatives like Bristol.
Poor Public Transport Connections: The airport's accessibility via public transport is often criticized, with many finding it difficult to reach without a car, despite the existence of a rail-bus link via Rhoose station.
Airport Lounge Dissatisfaction: Recent reviews of the airport lounge indicate disappointment with limited menu options and poor service due to understaffing.
Luggage Delays and Disorganization: Some passengers have reported issues with organization, including long waits for luggage after arrival.
Flight Delays: In 2022, Cardiff Airport was among the worst in the UK for flight delays, with an average delay of 24 minutes.
Overly Zealous Security / Staff Conduct (historical): While recent security experiences are positive, older reviews (pre-2023) occasionally mentioned "over zealous" or "aggressive" security staff, though this appears to be less prevalent in newer feedback.

Cardiff International Airport offers a generally convenient and friendly experience for many, particularly benefiting from its quick security (when not busy) and highly-rated parking services. However, its limited flight offerings and public transport challenges remain key areas for improvement, while recent efforts have enhanced accessibility and security technology.

Generated 5 days ago

This summary is automatically generated by AI based on web research of traveler reviews and experiences. AI-generated content may not always be 100% accurate.

Current Weather Conditions

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Airport Routes

Top Routes (by observations)

Newly Discovered

Popular Flight Routes

Building Route Index: We are building our route index for commercial airports. Currently 35 routes are indexed for Cardiff International Airport. For real-time updates, admin access is required.

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Destination	IATA	City	Aircraft Type	Airline	Details	Route Map
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Top Airlines

Operating at Cardiff International Airport

Airlines by Flight Activity

Based on observed flight operations and route network

Airline	Routes	Flights	Destinations	Last Activity
TUI Airways `TOM` / `BY`	22	153	22	Dec 8, 2025
Ryanair `RYR` / `FR`	5	116	5	Dec 8, 2025
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines `KLM` / `KL`	1	98	1	Dec 8, 2025
Emerald Airlines UK `EAG`	1	57	1	Dec 8, 2025
Vueling Airlines `VLG` / `VY`	2	47	2	Dec 8, 2025
Loganair `LOG` / `LM`	1	41	1	Dec 8, 2025
German Airways `GER` / `ZQ`	1	6	1	Oct 24, 2025
Eastern Airways `EZE` / `T3`	1	5	1	Sep 27, 2025
Voluxis `VXS`	1	1	1	Nov 13, 2025

Showing top 9 airlines by flight activity. Data includes observed departures and route networks from this airport.

For Pilots

Designation	Length	Width	Surface	Status
`12/30`	7723 ft	148 ft	ASP	Active Lighted

Type	Description	Frequency
APP	Cardiff Approach	`119.155 MHz`
APP	Cardiff Radar	`125.855 MHz`
Area Control	Cardiff Radar	`133.6 MHz`
ATIS	ATIS	`132.48 MHz`
FIRE	Cardiff Fire	`121.6 MHz`
TWR	Cardiff Tower	`133.105 MHz`

Ident	Name	Type	Frequency

Ground Transportation

Last updated: Nov 21, 2025

Taxis

The official taxi partner is Dragon Taxis, located directly outside the terminal building. Cabs are available 24/7 and can be pre-booked online or hired from the booking office in the arrivals hall.

Rental Cars

Several car rental companies, including Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz, have desks located in the arrivals hall. It is recommended to pre-book your vehicle online for the best availability and rates.

Public Transportation

Public transport includes bus and train services. The T9 bus service provides a direct link to Cardiff city centre and Cardiff Bay. The 905 shuttle bus connects the airport to the nearby Rhoose Cardiff International Airport train station, which offers Transport for Wales services to Cardiff Central and Bridgend.

Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.