Cardiff Airport Parking & Hotels

At A Glance

Airport Code CWL
Home to over 9 airlines
1 Terminal
Handling over 2 million passengers a year
Sat Nav Post Code CF62 3BD
Tel Cardiff Airport Information 0870 121 1258
The airport's slogan: 'You’re Journey Made Easier'

Cardiff City Airport is based in south Wales and the capital airport for European and international flights to over 50 destinations handling over 9 million passengers every year.

Cardiff airport car park can provide safe, very convenient and cheap parking for your trip. Passengers who expect a quality service can have the peace of mind that their car is in safe hands when using Cardiff airport facilities.

Cardiff Airport is owned by TBI plc offering scheduled, low fare, business and charter carriers, the vast majority of flights are to Europe namely Spain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Italy, France, as well international long haul flights to USA, Canada, Caribbean and South America.

Airlines including Aer Arann, Flybe, Thomsonfly, Thomas Cook Airlines all have a large presence at Cardiff.

Facilities

Within the terminal the airport has a bar serving drinks during normal licensing hours, a fast food restaurant for a quick bite to eat & a food village for sandwiches, snacks & hot meals. The landside of the terminal has a news agents in which you can purchase papers, books, gifts, tobacco & confectionary products. Airside of the terminal has the usual duty free shopping areas with products such as perfumes, electronics, clothing & liquor.

On site parking is located within a short distance from the terminal building offering safe and convenient parking for its customers. The car park is well patrolled, floodlit & has CCTV security surveillance.

Transport

Cardiff Airport is close to Rhoose in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales 12 miles west of Cardiff city and only 10 miles from the M4 junction 33. When you exit the M4 at Junction 33 simply follow the signs to Cardiff International Airport along the A4232, A4050 and A4226, when using Sat Nav enter post code CF62 3BD

As you approach Cardiff Airport you will see security signs and drop off and pick up information advising you of procedures, these include
Entrance to the drop off area and pick up areas and the non booked long term car park which is situated on Port Road on the eastern approach to the Airport.

Drivers are permitted to drop-off passengers outside the terminal building at Cardiff International Airport, making access to the airport more convenient especially those with movement problems and heavily loaded with luggage.

If you picking up passengers then the pick up point takes place in the short stay car park. This is to comply with Department for Transport (DfT) regulations forbidding unattended or waiting vehicles outside any airport terminal building in the UK.
The first hour in the short stay car park will cost £1.00 [subject to change without notice contact Cardiff Airport Information for the latest prices] for those wishing to meet and pick up arriving passengers.

Due to the increased levels of Airport security there are Signs and security measures installed to inform passengers of the systems and latest security procedures which are subject to change at any time. Approaching the airport, drivers will be directed into one dedicated lane leading to the short stay car park. A second lane will lead to the 'drop off' area directly in front of the terminal.

Disabled Access

The Terminal Building offers easy access to all areas, for wheel chair passengers as well as Disabled Toilets, flight info monitors and a minicom facility from the Info Desk for those with hearing difficulties. Assistance is also available and can be provided for boarding the aircraft, and specially allocated spaces are available in the car parks.

Background

The history of Cardiff airport origins date back to the early 1940’s during the Second World War when the Air ministry used the land to set up satellite aerodrome as a training base for the Royal Air force RAF Spitfire Pilots. Work commenced on the runway in 1941 and the airfield officially opened in April 1942 under operational duties.

After the war the commercial potential of the site was recognised by Aer Lingus who started a service to Dublin in the early 1950’s with a new terminal building in 1952. This was extended to flights to Belfast, Cork and France escalating by 1962 as a holiday passenger Airport with passengers exceeding 100,000 for the first time.
By the 1970’s the Rhoose Airport as it was known was renamed the Glamorgan Rhoose Airport during which time the Airport saw several visits by Concorde limited as it was by the short runway, Concorde made several landings lightly loaded. By 1980 the Airport changed its name to Cardiff Wales Airport.

By 1986 a runway investment was made to extend the runway by 750 feet [229met] attracting more business in the form of new jet engined aircraft and the development of transatlantic flights to Florida and Canada. The runway extension, enabling the airport to handle 747 Jumbo Jets, was instrumental in attracting the British Airways (BA) Maintenance facility to the airport. The BA maintenance hangar is one of the largest in the world at 250 m x 175 m (820 ft x 574 ft), providing heavy airframe and engineering maintenance for the British Airways fleet and third party carriers.
In April 1995, due to planned Local Government re-organisation in Wales, the Airport Company was privatised, with the shares being sold to the property and development firm, TBI plc.

Cardiff airport was used by over 2.1 million passengers in 2007 with a growth rate of 4.3%, on 2006 making it the 19th largest airport in the UK in terms of passenger numbers. Further routes are planned to extend the airports ever growing list of destinations.

Cardiff Airport Hotels

The Express Holiday Inn is the main Airport Hotel situated adjacent to the International Arrivals terminal, there is also Days Inn on the Eastern Access Road and the Innkeepers Lodge as well as the Copthorne in nearby Culverhouse Cross