TUI adds new routes from Cardiff Airport for summer 2026
TUI has announced a further major expansion at Cardiff Airport with the addition of new routes, as well as boosted frequency to some of its most popular holiday destinations.
The additional capacity gives holidaymakers even more choice and flexibility for a summer getaway from their local airport.
From summer 2026, a fourth aircraft will be based at Cardiff Airport, increasing the choice of holiday destinations for customers.
Hurghada – on 2 May 2026, TUI will launch a brand-new route from Cardiff to Hurghada meaning holidaymakers will be able to soak up Egyptian sunshine from May.
Faro – on 21 May 2026, a brand-new route from Cardiff to Faro will launch, taking travellers directly to the golden sands and beautiful coastlines in Portugal.
Fuerteventura – this route is new for summer 2026 but will continue from the winter season which launches on 20 December 2025. Customers will now have greater flexibility to choose when they want to enjoy the year-long sunshine to one of the Canary Islands’ most stunning spots, right from Cardiff.
Increased flying routes
Due to increased demand for summer hot-spot destinations, TUI is increasing its flying frequency to the likes of Antalya, Gran Canaria, Palma de Mallorca, Enfidha and Tenerife.
- The Antalya route will see an extra flight each week, increasing it from three to four flights per week
- TUI will double its weekly flying frequency to Gran Canaria from once to twice weekly
- The Cardiff to Palma De Mallorca route will be increased from five flights per week, to six
- Enfidha will see an additional weekly flight, taking it from two to three flights per week
- And customers will be able to choose from an additional flight to Tenerife each week, with four weekly flights
“More choice”
TUI UK&I Commercial Director Chris logan said: “We’re really excited to be expanding our routes and flying frequency from Cardiff Airport to give our customers even more choice and flexibility.
“With exclusive new routes and additional flights to some of the most popular holiday destinations, we’re making it even easier for travellers to visit new places from their local airport.
“We’ve seen the demand for destinations such as Turkey, Tenerife and Mallorca grow year on year, so this increase in capacity allows customers to explore more options when booking their holiday.
Lee Smith, Head of Business Development at Cardiff Airport, added: “This is fantastic news and a major investment in Cardiff Airport and Wales from TUI.
“The recent announcement of a second based aircraft this winter, followed by today’s news of a fourth based aircraft in summer 2026, shows the confidence TUI has in the market.
“TUI’s latest expansion means there will be an additional 48,000 holidays available with TUI from Cardiff next summer, including new routes to Faro and Hurghada.
“We look forward to working with the TUI team to continue growing in Wales.”
Controversy
An animal rights supporter and her baby were confined inside a tiny tank outside the TUI Holiday Store in Cardiff to protest against the travel company for selling tickets to Loro Parque, a controversial marine park in Tenerife, Spain.
The action comes after the birth of a baby orca in late March at the marine ‘amusement park’ – and as TUI ramps up the number of flights from Cardiff to Tenerife.
TUI – whose animal welfare policy is against breeding cetaceans in captivity for commercial purposes – is the last remaining major travel provider in the UK still selling tickets to marine parks.
🚨 A BABY ORCA WAS BORN IN A PRISON.
And today in Cardiff, a human mother and her baby made sure we didn’t forget 👇#TUICruelty #BoycottTUI @TUIUK pic.twitter.com/rx8ZbyQfTz— PETA UK (@PETAUK) April 29, 2025
PETA Senior Campaigns Manager Kate Werner said: “Loro Parque is trying to cash in on a baby orca who was born in a prison-like tank, where he’ll be denied any semblance of a natural life and forced to spend his days performing degrading tricks for tourists.”
Kate added: “PETA is calling on TUI to stop propping up these wretched facilities by ending its ticket sales to marine parks.”
Complex societies
In nature, orcas live in complex matrilineal societies, work cooperatively to find food, and can travel up to 150 miles in a single day.
But at wildlife “prisons” like Loro Parque, orcas and other dolphins and whales are confined for their entire lives to cramped concrete tanks where they can do nothing but swim in circles and fend off attacks from their stressed tank mates.
Jet2holidays. Expedia. Tripadvisor.
120+ companies dropped marine parks.
But TUI is still funding cruelty.💥 Over 200,000 voices demand change. Message TUI now:https://t.co/qCUX7PWyrK
— PETA UK (@PETAUK) April 29, 2025
Jet2holidays, Expedia, Tripadvisor, and over 120 other UK companies have stopped selling tickets to marine parks. More than 202,000 PETA entity supporters have called on TUI to follow suit.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview.
For more information, and to help support their campaign, visit PETA.org.uk or follow PETA on Facebook, X,TikTok, or Instagram
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Can we have Dubai direct please?
Regarding the story in other media outlets about Bristol’s complaint. Firstly why is the CMA investigating attempts to improve consumer choice rather than Bristol’s dominance of the regional market. Second it’s not correct to say that government support of CWL is unusual. Teesside is having is currently receiving almost identical state support and investment, while Bristol only achieved its current position after decades of state ownership and support before it was sold to the private sector. Third, Bristol is a holiday airport and does little to support inbound investment and tourism. A commercial business cannot deny a nation the right… Read more »
Please give us some better transport links to the airport. Being able to hop on a train to access the airport would be amazing.
A station in the basement would be great but the train to Rhoose and connecting shuttle works well enough for an airport of this size, and gets you to the terminal from Bridgend or Cardiff in 45 mins. The main problem is it doesn’t run early and late enough.
The only Capital City Airport in the World where the railway station isn’t at the airport .
Dublin doesn’t have a direct rail link.
Dublin Airport has express bus services from the city centre.
Cardiff Airport must at least have an express bus service.
When the volume of passenger grow it may provide the case for a new fast railway directly to the air terminal(s) at Cardiff Airport from city centre.
At the moment, it is difficult to travel through Cardiff Airport and is a disincentive to potential passenger growth.
As one Nation Cymru post has mentioned the US economy has fallen by 0.3%.
Then let’s help out American friends out with flights to New York, Washington, Chicago or LA.
The more carriers the better. We need the devolution of Air Tax Duty. No it’s or buts. But just think, if Cardiff International Airport’s fate was left to the Welsh Conservatives or UK Labour as seen with Welsh steel workers at Port Talbot , the Wales tourist board would be saying to overseas visitors: “Croeso i Gymru – Welcome to Wales, but first please land at Bristol Airport in England because we don’t have an airport anymore.
How about they look at the ridiculous charges for holiday parking and drop off and pick up.