Wizz Air has announced its new base at Cardiff Airport with nine new routes to sunshine destinations across Europe and beyond.

The new base is Wizz Air’s fourth in the UK. The airline’s Welsh customers and those from South West England will be able to take advantage of ultra-low fares on direct flights to sunshine destinations from Cardiff Airport for the first time.

Wizz Air will operate routes to Alicante, Faro, Heraklion, Palma de Mallorca, Larnaca, Lanzarote and Tenerife, with flights to Corfu planned to start in June, and Sharm El Sheikh in November.

The airport marks Wizz Air’s first venture into Wales, with the new base representing a significant investment in Cardiff Airport and the local region by creating over 40 direct jobs and over 250 indirect jobs, supporting industries such as aviation, transportation, hospitality, and tourism.

Marion Geoffroy, Managing Director of Wizz Air UK, said: “This is a very exciting time for Wizz Air in the UK, as we celebrate the opening of our highly anticipated base at Cardiff Airport. By bringing our new and efficient Airbus aircraft to Cardiff, the wings of which are manufactured in Wales, we are providing a significant boost to the Welsh economy and creating jobs. The base, which is our fourth in the UK, will bring further connectivity to the region, with passengers in Wales and the South West of England now able to take advantage of our ultra-low fares to ‘fly local’ to their favourite getaways. We’ve been busy building our Cardiff team, and as we continue to recruit we encourage those looking for their next adventure to apply today. We look forward to the upcoming summer season, as we welcome new passengers with affordable, direct flights to popular holiday destinations.”

Spencer Birns, Chief Executive Officer, Cardiff Airport, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the opening of the Wizz Air base today, as it marks a real turning point for the airport in its post-Covid revival plans. Our customers in Wales have been asking for a more cost-effective choice for many years. What makes this launch so exciting is that Wizz Air is an ultra-low-cost airline that will help build competition and offer improved choice to people living in Wales. This is because of Wizz Air’s ultra-low fares – from as little as £12.99 one-way.”