Blow for Cardiff Airport as airline pulls winter flights
Nation.Cymru staff
A popular airline has confirmed it has withdrawn all services between Cardiff and its Spanish destinations for the upcoming winter season.
In news revealed by Cardiff Airport News and Information it was confirmed that low-cost airline Vueling has withdrawn all services between Cardiff Airport and Alicante and Malaga for the up-coming Winter 2026-27 season.
Vueling, the Spanish operator owned by the multi-national International Airlines Group (IAG), had planned to operate a three times weekly service to Alicante alongside a short season of flights to Malaga over the Christmas and New Year period.
However, the airline recently suspended the sale of flights across both routes beyond the end of the summer season ending in late October.
Many travellers contacted CAN&I to say they had received cancellation notices for services departing in late October and during the month of November. This was followed by Cardiff Airport removing all references to Vueling from its winter schedule online.
CAN&I said it had approached both Vueling and Cardiff Airport for comment regarding the situation over recent days and both confirmed the routes will cease after October 24th, 2026.
A spokesperson for Vueling said: “At Vueling, we are constantly analysing our network and flight schedule to offer our passengers the best connectivity options and adapt our offer to the connectivity needs of each route.
“In this regard, our route between Alicante and Cardiff will not operate during the 2026 winter season. In any case, we continuously evaluate any opportunities that may arise in the future.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Cardiff Airport added: “We are disappointed that Vueling has taken the decision to withdraw its Cardiff to Alicante service for the winter season.
“Alicante remains a popular destination from Cardiff, with TUI and Ryanair continuing to offer direct flights this winter. We remain focused on working with our airline partners to grow our route network and give customers across Wales greater choice from Cardiff.
“We would encourage any customers affected by Vueling’s decision to contact the airline directly regarding their booking and to explore the alternative travel options available from Cardiff.”
READ MORE NATION CYMRU STORIES ABOUT CARDIFF AIRPORT HERE
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It’s because the Facebook page CardifAirportflightsand deals have only been pushing TUI and Ryan Air.
It’s because Ryanair keep beating them on price.
One factor is the Iran War and Russia Ukraine war that is leaving Europe short of aviation fuel and rocketing costs. Airlines have been pulling the least profitable routes.
This is not a blow, but can be seen as a success.
Lufthansa (manage main airlines in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy) has dramatically cut flights by cancelling / closing franchises and keeping core staff.
Flight demand in Europe is down and long-term there are plans for more high speed trains to connect European capital cities.
So Cardiff Airport has done well not to lose any TUI / Ryanair flights.
If Vueling did not engage with the airports media team to post on Facebook that is their own downfall!
Schedules fluctuate but the underlying progress made by Cardiff through route expansion is encouraging. I’ve flown from Cardiff and Bristol in recent months. The experiences were polar opposites. Cardiff was swift with a friendly, professional atmosphere whilst Bristol was rushed, sloppy and impersonal. I’ll only fly from the latter if absolutely necessary, whilst I regularly check the Cardiff website for flights and offers. We are lucky to have a top class airport on our doorstep – not just my opinion but also that of a couple from Toronto who I met in Cardiff.
The airports lead has come from Brains Brewery, so has background in hospitality.
The game changer for the airport may be the new college nearby- as then public transport links will improve in next 5 or so years; then it will be much easier to get to the airport.
The difference could be that when you fly from Cardiff more often than not your flight will be the only one there at your departure time whereas Bristol has flights taking off and landing like clockwork.
Bristol’s problem is too many people. Fine for shareholders, terrible for passengers. And that’s before things go wrong.
Need to do a deal with Ryanair. They can’t be happy at Bristol with failing runways and facilities swamped by easyJet.