Cardiff Airport has said that European regional airline Flybe will set up a new base at Wales’ national airport, which will see 11 routes and over half a million extra seats on sale for this summer.
The move follows a long-term agreement between Flybe and Cardiff Airport. The new network includes flights to existing routes between Cardiff and Belfast, Dusseldorf and Jersey, plus new routes between Cardiff and Cork, Dublin, Edinburgh, Faro, Glasgow, Munich, Milan and Paris.
Seats will go on sale starting March 6, with fares starting from £24.99 one way, the airport said.
Saad Hammad, CEO, Flybe said: ‘We are delighted to launch these exciting new routes from Cardiff Airport. We have been looking to find a productive home for our surplus E195 aircraft and we are delighted at this agreement with Cardiff Airport which involves us basing two of these jets there to serve the Welsh market with great value fares and further improving UK regional connectivity.’
Lord Rowe-Beddoe, Chairman, Cardiff Airport, said: ‘Our customers want greater choice in routes, more frequent services and better value flights. This new Flybe base is most welcome news for our passengers as it will bring new destinations and increased services from a popular great-value airline, as well as creating opportunities to encourage more visitors to come to Wales.’
First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones said: ‘Flybe’s announcement that it is opening a new base operating 11 routes from Cardiff Airport is fantastic news. We’ve always said that we want the airport to be a gateway to Wales, as something that will drive our economy by bringing tourists and business to the country. We’ve already invested in improving the overall customer experience at Cardiff Airport and the new routes to major European destinations, as well as the creation of 50 new jobs, demonstrates Flybe’s commitment to the Airport and will help to make it the success we know it can be.’
In addition, Spanish low cost airline Vueling also has its summer 2015 schedule available, with direct flights from Cardiff to Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga and Palma Mallorca.
