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CWL Cardiff International Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

Cardiff International Airport (CWL) serves Cardiff, about 15 km southwest of Cardiff. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATACWL
ICAOEGFF
ServesCardiff
From centre15 km
Non-stop20
Airlines14
TimezoneEurope/London
Elevation67 m

See on map ↗

The airport in numbers

Cardiff International Airport — facts & history

We pulled Cardiff International Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 857,397 passengers in 2022, against a peak of 2.1M in 2007.

Passengers / year
857,397
as of 2022
Peak traffic
2.1M
in 2007
Elevation
67 מ׳
above sea level
Operator
Abertis
Passengers per year, 1961–2022

Figures: Wikidata (CC0) · Wikipedia

Airport to city

Getting from Cardiff International Airport to Cardiff

The airport is about 15 km southwest of Cardiff, about 31 minutes by road in normal traffic.

Train & bus: London: every airport (LHR, LGW, STN, LTN, LCY) has a train/express to the centre — the expresses are fast but pricey, Tube/standard rail far cheaper. Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham have a tram or train from the terminal.

Taxi & apps: A metered black cab, or a pre-booked minicab (never hailed). Uber and Bolt are legal in London and most cities. Estimated fare to the centre: £25–£40.

Tipping: 10% is usual in a licensed cab; not required.

Way inTime to centreCost
Train / bus~22 mincheapestCHEAPEST
Taxi~31 min£25–£40
Private transfer~31 minfixed upfront
Car rental~31 min + חניהfrom the terminal
Distances

From CWL to nearby cities

Estimated drive times in normal traffic, and an approximate taxi fare at the local tariff. A pre-booked transfer is usually cheaper.

DestinationDistanceDriveTaxi (est.)
Bristol52 km73 min£82–£130
Bath68 km72 min£107–£169
Oxford150 km157 min£232–£369
Birmingham156 km164 min£241–£383
Choose and book

Which way suits you from Cardiff International Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people. ~£25–£40 to the centre.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in Cardiff ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from Cardiff International Airport

Non-stop flights to about 20 destinations, operated by 14 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: Transavia France · Air France · CityJet · Iberia Airlines · Vueling Airlines · Flybe · Star1 Airlines · KLM Royal Dutch Airlines · Alitalia · Aer Lingus

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Cardiff International Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Cardiff International Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in Cardiff shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — Cardiff International Airport

No reviews yet — be the first to share.

Airports nearby

Other options near Cardiff

Same country

Other airports in United Kingdom

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Cardiff International Airport to the centre of Cardiff?
London: every airport (LHR, LGW, STN, LTN, LCY) has a train/express to the centre — the expresses are fast but pricey, Tube/standard rail far cheaper. Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham have a tram or train from the terminal. The airport is about 15 km southwest of Cardiff, about 31 minutes by road.
How much is a taxi from Cardiff International Airport to Cardiff?
Roughly £25–£40 (at the local tariff). Many airports have a regulated flat fare — ask at the taxi desk.
Can I use a ride app from Cardiff International Airport?
A metered black cab, or a pre-booked minicab (never hailed). Uber and Bolt are legal in London and most cities.
What's the cheapest way from Cardiff International Airport to Cardiff?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. London: every airport (LHR, LGW, STN, LTN, LCY) has a train/express to the centre — the expresses are fast but pricey, Tube/standard rail far cheaper. Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham have a tram or train from the terminal.
Can I get from Cardiff International Airport into town without a car?
Yes. London: every airport (LHR, LGW, STN, LTN, LCY) has a train/express to the centre — the expresses are fast but pricey, Tube/standard rail far cheaper. Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham have a tram or train from the terminal. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from Cardiff International Airport?
About 20 destinations, including Jersey, Alicante, Malaga, Edinburgh. 14 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Cardiff International Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Cardiff International Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Cardiff International Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
Cardiff city guide← United Kingdom travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes · Getting-there notes: Around the World, checked 2026

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