In what has been a ground-breaking 12 months at Wales’ national airport, the 2017/18 financial year has ended with more positive developments including a 10 per cent increase in passenger growth.

The number of customers flying through Cardiff Airport now stands at more than 1,488 million over the rolling year.

This exciting news comes as a result of our airlines offering an increased choice of destinations, more seats and improved flight times with greater value for money when choosing to fly from Cardiff.

Some of the new destinations launched over the last 12 months include Madrid with brand new airline Iberia Express; Faro with Ryanair; Venice and Rome with Flybe plus Guernsey with Blue Islands – Flybe’s franchise partner.

In September it was announced that five star airline Qatar Airways will begin operating a regular service to Doha, Qatar from May 1.

This direct flight to the Middle East will offer customers opportunities to travel onwards to destinations including Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Asia from Cardiff.

The ten most popular destinations in 2017/18 were: Amsterdam with KLM; Palma Majorca with Vueling, TUI and Thomas Cook; Alicante with Vueling and TUI; Dublin with Flybe; Edinburgh with Flybe; Tenerife with Ryanair, TUI and Thomas Cook; Malaga with Vueling and TUI; Paris with Flybe; Belfast with Flybe; and Faro with Flybe, Ryanair and TUI.

Debra Barber, CEO of Cardiff Airport, said: "The past 12 months have seen increased choice for our passengers, exciting announcements for the seasons ahead and even more improvements to the customer experience. In addition to the huge Qatar Airways announcement, we’ve also welcomed a third aircraft to the Flybe base and look forward to its third summer of flying customers to 21 destinations across the UK & Europe.

“KLM has introduced a larger aircraft to its daily services to Amsterdam Schiphol and introduced a wealth of new connections to far flung destinations including New York, Orlando, Los Angeles and Toronto. The next twelve months will be transformational, with new routes already announced including Doha with Qatar Airways plus Naples, Dubrovnik, Enfidha and Hurghada with TUI in summer 2019.

“Cardiff Airport is proudly flying the flag for Wales every day of the year.”