With all eyes on the Welsh capital ahead the Champions League final on Saturday, Cardiff Airport is getting ready to welcome a huge number of additional passengers ahead of what is set to be one of the largest sporting events in the country’s history.
More than 24,000 additional fans are expected to fly through the national Airport of Wales between June 3rd-4th, generating some 400 additional aircraft movements via charter and private aircraft.
Regular, scheduled airlines including Ryanair and Vueling have increased frequency while KLM will operate larger aircraft to manage demands.
Juventus fans will arrive into Cardiff through a second terminal that has been built especially to manage the significant additional passenger traffic safely and securely.
Both the Juventus and Real Madrid teams and their management will be welcomed onto Welsh soil on June 2nd ahead of the match at the National Stadium of Wales, including Welsh football superstar Gareth Bale who will land on home turf.
While the airport will be much busier, scheduled flights will operate as usual with every effort being made to minimise the impact on regular passengers flying off for their summer holiday or away on business.
Customers are being advised to allow additional time to travel to and from the airport, and to be mindful of road closures in place in and around the area.
Deb Barber, chief executive of Cardiff Airport, commented: “We are immensely proud to play our part in the Team Wales approach to the delivery of this major event.
“Cardiff Airport’s role in the Champions League Final has been some 12 months in the planning with the support of a number of key agencies to ensure that air transport plan is robust, effective and of course safe and secure.
“As a team we’ll be going above and beyond to ensure business as usual is upheld for our customers, while delivering a successful event and a warm Welsh welcome to a wealth of excited sport fans!”