Cardiff Airport (CWL/EGFF) has hit 1.2m* passengers in the last 12 months, a feat last seen in 2011.
The figure comes on the back of 9 months of continuous growth for Cardiff Airport including February 2016 which saw a 68%* rise in passenger numbers, largely thanks French and Irish visitors for the 6 Nations Rugby Tournament.
The growth has also been as a result of Flybe creating a 14 route network from the Wales and a strong summer season which saw over 800,000 passengers fly out to sunny destinations with Thomson, Thomas Cook and Vueling.
The increase has prompted airlines such as Vueling to increase capacity at Cardiff Airport which they announced last week.
Deb Barber, Managing Director of Cardiff Airport described 2015 as a “turning point” for the Welsh Government owned airport adding “Cardiff Airport is proudly flying the flag for Wales every day of the year”.
Dublin was the fastest growing route after Flybe added another option to the existing Aer Lingus flights to the Irish capital. This followed by Edinburgh, Paris, Faro and Lanzarote.
2016 will see Cardiff Airport introduce more new flights include Thomson Cruise flights to the United Arab Emirates and the Caribbean whilst Thomas Cook will again be operating charter flights to Florida and Mexico.
Offering Cardiff Airport as a long haul airport is one advantage it has over its main rival, Bristol Airport and the devolution of Air Passenger Duty as recommended by the Silk Commission is something that needs to happen as soon as possible to continue and increase current rate of growth.
*Figures from Cardiff Airport.