TUI announces major expansion at Cardiff Airport with new routes and increased flights

Daniel Bevan - Senior Journalist

TUI has today confirmed a significant expansion of its operations at Cardiff Airport, introducing new routes and boosting flight frequency to some of the most sought-after holiday destinations for Welsh travellers.

The move gives holidaymakers greater choice and flexibility when planning their summer breaks from their local airport.

New Routes

As part of its Summer 2026 flying programme, TUI will base a fourth aircraft at Cardiff Airport, enabling the introduction of several exciting new routes:

Hurghada – Launching 2nd May 2026, this brand-new service will offer customers the chance to enjoy the sunshine and rich culture of Egypt’s Red Sea coast.

Faro – From 21st May 2026, holidaymakers can fly directly to Portugal’s Algarve region, known for its golden beaches and scenic coastline.

Fuerteventura – Available throughout Summer 2026, this new route follows on from its Winter 2025 launch on 20th December, offering year-round access to the Canary Islands’ sunshine.

Increased Flight Frequencies
In response to strong customer demand, TUI is also increasing frequency on several of its most popular summer routes from Cardiff:

Antalya – increasing from three to four flights per week

Gran Canaria – doubling from one to two weekly flights

Palma de Mallorca – expanding from five to six flights per week

Enfidha (Tunisia) – increasing from two to three weekly flights

Tenerife – rising to four flights per week

Chris Logan, TUI UK & Ireland Commercial Director, said: “We’re really excited to be expanding our routes and flying frequency from Cardiff Airport to give our customers even more choice and flexibility.

“With exclusive new routes and additional flights to some of the most popular holiday destinations, we’re making it even easier for travellers to visit new places from their local airport.

“We’ve seen the demand for destinations such as Turkey, Tenerife and Mallorca grow year on year, so this increase in capacity allows customers to explore more options when booking their holiday.”

Lee Smith, Head of Business Development at Cardiff Airport, welcomed the news saying it was a major investment in Cardiff Airport and Wales from TUI.

He said: “The recent announcement of a second based aircraft this winter, followed by today’s news of a fourth based aircraft in summer 2026, shows the confidence TUI has in the market.

“TUI’s latest expansion means there will be an additional 48,000 holidays available with TUI from Cardiff next summer, including new routes to Faro and Hurghada.

“We look forward to working with the TUI team to continue growing in Wales.”