April 30, 2025

TUI BOOSTS CAPACITY AT CARDIFF AIRPORT FOR SUMMER 26

TUI UK&I
Wednesday 30 April: TUI has today announced a further major expansion at Cardiff Wales Airport with new routes added to its flying programme, as well as boosted frequency to some of the most popular holiday destinations for Welsh travellers. The additional capacity gives holidaymakers even more choice and flexibility for a summer getaway from their local airport.

New routes

From summer 2026, a fourth aircraft will be based at Cardiff Airport, increasing the choice of holiday destinations for customers.

Hurghada – on 2nd 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 21st 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 26 but will continue from the winter season which launches on 20th December 25. 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

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.”

TUI UK & IRELAND 

TUI is one of the world's leading tourism groups and operates worldwide. TUI UK is the business behind First Choice, Marella Cruises and Crystal Ski Holidays brands, as well as TUI Cities, TUI Lakes & Mountains, TUI Tours, TUI River Cruises, and its leisure hotel brands TUI Blue, Holiday Villages, Magic Life and more. Part of one of the four regions within the Markets + Airline business division at TUI the tourism business fulfils package holidays, components and ancillaries to a large customer base in more than a dozen source markets.

TUI UK & Ireland has a team of over 11,000 employees and its full holiday programme serves millions of customers each year. TUI Airways, part of TUI Airline, operates to over 80 destinations in 32 countries with 70 aircraft from 23 UK and Ireland airports with 69 aircraft. TUI UK & Ireland work with independent agents and has a retail estate made up of more than 330 retail stores including TUI superstores where TUI’s travel experts take care of all customers' needs.

TUI UK & Ireland has a team of over 11,000 employees and its full holiday programme serves millions of customers each year. TUI Airways, part of TUI Airline, operates to over 80 destinations in 32 countries with 70 aircraft from 23 UK and Ireland airports with 69 aircraft. TUI UK & Ireland’s retail estate is made up of more than 330 retail stores including TUI superstores where TUI’s travel experts take care of all customers' needs.

 

About TUI Group 

The TUI Group is one of the world's leading tourism groups and operates worldwide. The Group is 

headquartered in Germany. TUI shares are listed in the MDAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange 

and in the regulated market of the Lower Saxony Stock Exchange in Hanover. TUI Group offers its 19 million customers integrated services from a single source and forms the entire tourism value chain 

under one roof. The Group owns over 400 hotels and resorts with premium brands such as RIU, TUI 

Blue and Robinson and 17 cruise ships, ranging from the MS Europa and MS Europa 2 in the luxury 

class and expedition ships in the HANSEATIC class to the Mein Schiff fleet of TUI Cruises and cruise 

ships operated by Marella Cruises in the UK. The Group also includes Europe's leading tour operator brands and online marketing platforms, for example for hotel-only or flight-only offers, five airlines with more than 130 modern medium- and long-haul aircraft and around 1,200 travel agencies. In addition to expanding its core business with hotels and cruises via successful joint ventures and activities in vacation destinations, TUI is increasingly focusing on the expansion of digital platforms. The Group is transforming itself into a global tourism platform company. Global responsibility for sustainable economic, environmental and social action is at the heart of our corporate culture. With projects in 25 countries, the TUI Care Foundation initiated by TUI focuses on the positive effects of tourism, on education and training and on strengthening environmental and social standards. In this way, it supports the development of vacation destinations. The globally active TUI Care Foundation initiates projects that create new opportunities for the next generation. 

TUI UK&I Press Office
prpod@tui.co.uk

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