Pre-Christmas fog failed to stop Cardiff International Airport passing its two million passenger target for 2006, making it one of the UK’s fastest-growing airports.

December’s poor weather virtually closed the airport for three days but was balanced by weather problems at Bristol Airport just before the New Year, which meant ten passenger aircraft were diverted to Cardiff.

The airport recorded a 13% increase in passenger numbers for 2006, compared with 12-month growth from Bristol International of 11%, Edinburgh’s 2.1% and the seven BAA airports’ 2.3% increase.

With new routes such as Barcelona, Nantes and Kos announced for 2007 and more expected, together with greater frequencies on some of its most popular destinations, Cardiff International expects to continue its double-digit growth over the coming 12 months.

Said managing director Jon Horne: “So many unpredictable factors emerged in 2006 that could have made our projections look over-ambitious. Yet the backing of the Welsh public, excellent products and pricing from airlines and just a touch of last-minute ‘swings and roundabouts’ meant we passed the magic two million mark.”
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