With the Champions League Final in Cardiff just days away, Cardiff Airport has been busy preparing for what could turn out to be the busiest week in its history. That’s why we’ve produced the ultimate guide to Cardiff Airport & the Champions League Final.
With over 400 extra movements on the airfield and around 24,000 fans expected to use Wales’ National Airport its going to be a big draw for aviation enthusiasts and plane spotters too!
So what is the Champions League Final all about…
The UEFA Champions League Final is taking place in Cardiff on the 3rd June 2017 between Real Madrid and Juventus. As a result around 170,000 people are expected to visit the Welsh Capital.
Extra aircraft will start ferrying staff and fans in from Thursday the 1st June. Across the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th June around 400 extra movements are expected at Cardiff Airport. Bristol Airport is also expecting a large number of extra flights.
Both the Juventus and Real Madrid teams along with their management will arrive on June 2nd ahead of the match at the National Stadium of Wales.
The UEFA Womens Champions League Final also takes place in Cardiff on Thursday 1st June at Cardiff City Stadium.
Speaking about the event Cardiff Airport’s Chief Executive, Deb Barber said “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.”
Where can I view the aircraft…
Cardiff Airport has announced an official viewing area which is situated in the overflow car park at the top of Rhoose Road. There will be no food or drink vendors however toilets are being provided. Rhoose Road is closed to traffic so it is recommended that you use public transport such as parking in Barry and getting the train to Rhoose, or parking at Rhoose Train Station. Police say restrictions on parking in Rhoose village will be in place across the 4 days.
There are of course multiple unofficial viewing areas including Porthkerry & the fenceline near the Highwayman Inn. Check out SpotCWL.com for maps and information.
I’m flying from the airport during this, will I be affected…
The airport is going to be much busier than normal so you need to allow yourself extra time for traffic and parking. All scheduled flights will be operating as normal and the airport does not anticipate any delays.
There are several road closures that you need to be aware off for the Champions League Final and fixed routes in and out of the airport if you are dropping people off or picking up.
Most fans will be using the temporary Terminal 2 which has been set up especially for this event so shouldn’t affect those travelling though the airport on scheduled flights.
What aircraft are expected…
A large variety of aircraft are expected into Cardiff from Madrid, Turin, Milan, Rome, Paris Orly and Lyon. Highlights include an Alitalia Boeing 777-200 and an Azores Airlines Airbus A310. There is also expected to be a large array of Business Jets arriving although many will also go to Gloucestershire Airport. Unfortunately St Athan misses out by being forced to close for 3 days due to airspace management issues. This means all General Aviation traffic arriving for the final will go to Cotswold Airport (Kemble).
The Latest Arrivals List (updated regularly)
| Thursday 1st June | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIGLE AZUR | ZI959 | Paris Orly(ORY) | 10:00 | Cardiff(CWL) | 11:00 | |
| AIR FRANCE | AF4004 | Lyon(LYS) | 10:40 | Cardiff(CWL) | 11:40 | |
| AIGLE AZUR | ZI927 | Paris Orly(ORY) | 13:55 | Cardiff(CWL) | 14:55 | |
| AIR NOSTRUM | YW2010 | Madrid(MAD) | 14:05 | Cardiff(CWL) | 22:45 | A320 |
| Friday 2nd June | ||||||
| AIR NOSTRUM | Madrid(MAD) | 13:00 | Cardiff(CWL) | 14:15 | CRJ1000 | |
| RYANAIR | FR5089 | Madrid(MAD) | 11:10 | Cardiff(CWL) | 12:20 | B738 |
| RYANAIR | FR5090 | Cardiff(CWL) | 12:45 | Madrid(MAD) | 15:45 | B738 |
| VUELING | VY7756 | Rome(FCO) | 21.15 | Cardiff(CWL) | 22:45 | A320 |
| ALITALIA | Milan(MXP) | 04:00 | Cardiff(CWL) | 05:00 | A320 | |
| MALETH AERO | Madrid(MAD) | 06:00 | Cardiff(CWL) | 07:00 | B733 | |
| ENTER AIR | Madrid(MAD) | 06:00 | Cardiff(CWL) | 07:00 | B738 | |
| ERNEST AIRLINES | Milan(MXP) | 06:55 | Cardiff(CWL) | 08:00 | A319 | |
| COBREX | Madrid(MAD) | 10:00 | Cardiff(CWL) | 11:05 | B733 | |
| MERIDIANA | Milan(MXP) | 10:00 | Cardiff(CWL) | 11:05 | B762 | |
| ALITALIA | Milan(MXP) | 13:00 | Cardiff(CWL) | 14:00 | A330 | |
| Saturday 3rd June | ||||||
| VUELING | VY7758 | Rome(FCO) | 00:25 | Cardiff(CWL) | 01:55 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7756 | Rome(FCO) | 07:50 | Cardiff(CWL) | 09:20 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7769 | Milan(MXP) | 08:15 | Cardiff(CWL) | 09:20 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7791 | Milan(MXP) | 08:50 | Cardiff(CWL) | 09:55 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7773 | Turin(TRN) | 09:40 | Cardiff(CWL) | 10:45 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7771 | Milan(MXP) | 13:50 | Cardiff(CWL) | 14:55 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7757 | Rome(FCO) | 14:30 | Cardiff(CWL) | 16:00 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7793 | Rome(FCO) | 14:50 | Cardiff(CWL) | 16:20 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7775 | Turin(TRN) | 15:25 | Cardiff(CWL) | 16:30 | A320 |
| AIR LUBO | Madrid(MAD) | 06:00 | Cardiff(CWL) | 07:10 | MD83 | |
| MERIDIANA | Milan(MXP) | 06:30 | Cardiff(CWL) | 07:30 | B762 | |
| AIR HORIZON | Milan(MXP) | 07:10 | Cardiff(CWL) | 08:15 | B734 | |
| CARPATAIR | V32616 | Milan(MXP) | 09:30 | Cardiff(CWL) | 10:30 | F100 |
| AZORE AIRLINES | Madrid(MAD) | 10:35 | Cardiff(CWL) | 11:35 | A310 | |
| ALITALIA | Milan(MXP) | 12:05 | Cardiff(CWL) | 13:05 | A320 | |
| MISTRAL AIR | M48901 | Milan(BGY) | Cardiff(CWL) | 04:50 | ||
| ALITALIA | AZ9542 | Catania(CTY) | Cardiff(CWL) | 02:55 | ||
| ALITALIA | AZ9525 | Bologna(BLQ) | Cardiff(CWL) | 04:40 | ||
| ALITALIA | AZ9510 | Turin (TRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 05:00 | ||
| ALITALIA | AZ9520 | Milan (MXP) | Cardiff(CWL) | 05:00 | ||
| BLUE PANORAMA | BV880 | Milan(MXP) | Cardiff(CWL) | 05:55 | ||
| ALITALIA | AZ9506 | Rome (FCO) | Cardiff(CWL) | 06:35 | ||
| BLUE AIR | 0B9761 | Turin (TRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 06:45 | ||
| ALBASTAR | AP5641 | Milan (BGY) | Cardiff(CWL) | 04:50 | ||
| ALBASTAR | AP5965 | Verona (VRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 06:55 | ||
| ALITALIA | AZ9529 | Turin (TRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 07:35 | ||
| ERNEST AIRLINES | EG8014 | Milan (MXP) | Cardiff(CWL) | 07:50 | ||
| ALITALIA | AZ9519 | Turin (TRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 08:40 | ||
| CZECH AIRLINES | OK6728 | Milan (MXP) | Cardiff(CWL) | 08:30 | ||
| ALITALIA | AZ9508 | Turin (TRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 08:40 | ||
| ASTRA AIRLINES | A2910 | Turin (TRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 09:20 | ||
| ALITALIA | AZ9502 | Turin (TRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 10:20 | ||
| TITAN | ZT7121 | Turin (TRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 10:20 | ||
| ALITALIA | AZ9511 | Turin (TRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 10:35 | ||
| ALITALIA | AZ9521 | Turin (TRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 10:40 | ||
| ALITALIA | AZ9535 | Turin (TRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 10:50 | ||
| ALBASTAR | AP5747 | Milan (MXP) | Cardiff(CWL) | 10:50 | ||
| MISTRAL AIR | M48063 | Rome (FCO) | Cardiff(CWL) | 12:00 | ||
| ERNEST AIRLINES | EG8015 | Turin (TRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 12:45 | ||
| BLUE PANORMA | BV882 | Milan (MXP) | Cardiff(CWL) | 12:45 | ||
| ALITALIA | AZ9527 | Rome (FCO) | Cardiff(CWL) | 13:00 | ||
| SUNDIAL | LG2064 | Milan (MXP) | Cardiff(CWL) | 13:00 | ||
| ALITALIA | AZ9538 | Turin (TRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 13:15 | ||
| TITAN | ZT7125 | Turin (TRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 13:30 | ||
| ALBASTAR | AP5863 | Milan (MXP) | Cardiff(CWL) | 14:00 | ||
| ALITALIA | AZ9509 | Verona (VRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 14:15 | ||
| TITAN | ZT7123 | Turin (TRN) | Cardiff(CWL) | 14:20 | ||
| Sunday 4th June | ||||||
| VUELING | VY7756 | Cardiff(CWL) | 02:00 | Rome(FCO) | 05:30 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7774 | Cardiff(CWL) | 02:55 | Turin(TRN) | 06:00 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7770 | Cardiff(CWL) | 03:00 | Milan(MXP) | 06:05 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7780 | Cardiff(CWL) | 04:05 | Milan(MXP) | 07:10 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7758 | Cardiff(CWL) | 06:40 | Rome(FCO) | 10:10 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7768 | Cardiff(CWL) | 08:25 | Rome(FCO) | 11:55 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7780 | Cardiff(CWL) | 08:35 | Milan(MXP) | 11:40 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7776 | Cardiff(CWL) | 08:40 | Turin(TRN) | 11:45 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7784 | Cardiff(CWL) | 09:55 | Rome(FCO) | 13:05 | A320 |
| VUELING | VY7762 | Cardiff(CWL) | 14:35 | Rome(FCO) | 18:05 | A320 |
| Monday 5th June | ||||||
| VUELING | VY7754 | Cardiff(CWL) | 01:50 | Rome(FCO) | 05:20 | A320 |
| RYANAIR | FR5089 | Mardid(MAD) | 17:15 | Cardiff(CWL) | 18:15 | B738 |
| RYANAIR | FR5090 | Cardiff(CWL) | 18:40 | Madrid(MAD) | 21:40 | B738 |
Useful Websites
- Cardiff Airport – official website of Cardiff Airport
- SpotCWL – Spotting and Viewing locations and advice
- South Wales Aviation Group – Up-to-date blog on happenings at Cardiff Airport & MOD St Athan
So does this mean the viewing area will just be the boundary fence that you park against anyway ?
Yes, but you will now be within a fenced area and no vehicles. Standing room only.