Cardiff Airport (CWL)

Overview

A small airport with only basic facilities, Cardiff Airport (CWL) is nonetheless an important transport hub in Wales, as it is the only international airport. Located 12 miles (19km) west of Cardiff in the village of Rhoose, the airport has only a few shops and restaurants, but is known for its efficiency and ease of use.

Serving more than 1.5 million passengers each year, Cardiff International Airport is the fastest (and often cheapest) method of getting to Wales. The airport is served by a number of low-cost airlines offering routes to European hubs such as Amsterdam and Edinburgh, and dozens of cheap flights to Spanish resorts such as Mallorca and Alicante.

Location

The airport is located 12 miles (19km) southwest of Cardiff city centre.

Getting to the city

The Cardiff Aiport Express bus service runs every 30 minutes during the day, seven days a week; journey time to Cardiff from the airport is approximately 35 minutes. A rail link also connects Cardiff International Airport to Cardiff Central and Bridgend. Trains run each direction every hour daily (every two hours on Sunday) with onward connections to other destinations on the rail network. A shuttle connects the airport to the nearby train station in 10 minutes, costing about £1.

Time

GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Contacts

Tel: +44 1446 711 111.

Car rental

Enterprise, Europcar, and Avis are represented at the airport.

Airport Taxis

Passengers can book a private taxi transfer with FlightLink Wales to and from Cardiff Airport.

Facilities

Facilities include a bureau de change, ATMs, baby changing facilities, faxing and photocopying, game zones, duty-free shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars. There are also facilities for disabled passengers.

Parking

Short-term parking is right outside the terminal building and long-term parking is further away from the terminal but is serviced by a free shuttle. Pre-booking is available.

Website

www.cardiff-airport.com

Airlines

Flights to Cardiff International Airport are available on airlines including KLM, Qatar Airways, Ryanair and Vueling.

Internet

Cardiff Airport offers free WiFi throughout the terminal for two hours.

Business Lounges

Cardiff Airport has several meeting rooms for hire that are equipped with all the necessary audio-visual equipment. There are also internet kiosks, post boxes, and cell phone charging stations located throughout the airport. For a fee, the Executive Lounge offers business facilities, as well as a bar, light meals, private washrooms, and WiFi.

Cardiff Airport Taxis: the taxi fares above are intended as a guideline only.