Although it only features at number twenty in the list of the UK’s busiest airports, Cardiff Airport (CWL/EGFF) is nonetheless an international airport and the busiest airport in Wales. The airport has been under the ownership of the Welsh government since March 2013 and is operated by Cardiff Airport Ltd on a commercial basis. Since 2013 the airport has undergone a huge transformation with improvements made to the terminal, surrounding infrastructure and customer service standards. The airport is located near the village of Rhoose in the Vale of Glamorgan.

From a high point of over 2.1 million passengers in 2007, numbers more than halved to just over one million in 2012. Since 2014 numbers have gradually increased again, reaching nearly 1.6 million in 2018.

In June 2015, Flybe opened a base at the airport and the airline currently operates a busy schedule covering sixteen direct routes to destinations in the UK and Europe, mainly with ERJ-175 jets. Unfortunately, from the winter 2019 schedule, Flybe will cease operating jet traffic at Cardiff and its base at Cardiff will close. The airport will still be served by Flybe’s turboprop aircraft fleet operating from other Flybe bases. Other Cardiff operators include KLM, Ryanair, TUI and Vueling, with BH Airlines operating a seasonal service to Burgas. The only regular scheduled intercontinental flight serving Cardiff is Qatar Airways’ service to Doha. There is a  large BA hangar where they sends its wide body Boeing aircraft for heavy maintenance.

Cardiff has a single 2,354 metre runway which managed 31,085 movements in 2018.

Written by Clive Grant. Last update September 2020.

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Airport Information
Runways
12/30	2.354 m (7.723 ft) asphalt
Terminals	One for all flights,
Spotting Information
Ladder	Useful for several of the spots. Details given under each spot.
Car/Public Transport	A car is desirable as, for most of the day, the best spots are on the opposite side of the airport to the terminal. However, walking east from the terminal will get you to Spot #7 in five minutes, Spots #5 & 6 in thirty minutes and Spot #4 in about forty five minutes. Walking west from the terminal, Spot #1 can be reached in about forty minutes and Spots #2 & 3 in about fifty minutes. The T9 bus routes between Cardiff city centre and Cardiff Airport; the service is free at weekends.
Restrooms	The Highwayman Bar & Grillhouse for Spots #2 & 3 and in the Holiday Inn Express or the airport terminal for Spot #7.
Drinks/Food	The Highwayman Bar & Grillhouse for Spots #2 & 3.
Hotels	The Holiday Inn Express is sited a five minute walk away from the airport terminal on the roundabout at the western end of Port Road. The Celtic International and Vale Park Hotels are slightly further away on Port Road in Tredogan.
Season	Summer does see some extra traffic to typical holiday destinations, therefore the longer days and hopefully better weather during the summer months may be the deciding factor in terms of when to visit.
Runway Usage
12/30	It is the only runway. There is no preference for either easterly or westerly operations so the runway end in use will depend entirely on the wind direction.

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	Spot #1 – Rockshead Lane – Arriving traffic on Runway 12
WHERE	By car, route north from the terminal to join Tredogan Road and take the second left exit from the roundabout onto the B4265. Just after the extended centreline of Runway 12, turn left onto Rockshead Lane and keep left at the fork to remain on Rockshead Lane. Follow the lane until reaching the metal gate on the left and pull clear of the road to park here.
WHAT	This is Spot #1 where you can take photos of landing traffic on Runway 12 over the gate. Traffic lining up on Runway 12 cannot be photographed from here as there is a large mound in the way, and traffic departing from Runway 30 may well be too high by this point.
TIME	In the winter the light is good from about 11am; in the summer the light’s OK from about 12 noon until about 6pm.
MISC.	A ladder is not necessary here. There is no shade here and there are no facilities so bring what you need.
FOCAL LENGTH	About 90mm for the 787-8; about 150mm for the A320/737-800. Light aircraft will need a much higher focal length.

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	Spot #2 – Crash Gate 2 – Arrivals and departures on Runway 30.
WHERE	From Spot #1, continue along Rockshead Lane to the junction with Port Road. Turn left onto Port Road and continue to where the road ends just after the Highwayman Bar & Grillhouse. Park at the side of the road here making sure you don’t block the crash gate; alternatively, park in the Highwayman car park. The fence on the right hand side of the crash gate is relatively low, but not quite low enough to take photos without something to stand on. It is possible to take some photos through the fence here, but it’s much easier with a ladder, especially as you’ll be shooting at an angle across to the runway.
WHAT	Traffic on the runway and the parallel taxiway beyond, though it’s better for Runway 30 traffic.
TIME	In the winter the light is good from about 11am; in the summer the light’s OK from about 12 noon until about 6pm.
MISC.	Food, drink and restroom facilities are available in the Highwayman Bar & Grillhouse. Heat haze can be an issue on warmer days, especially for traffic on the taxiway.
FOCAL LENGTH	120-300mm will cover the regular airliners from here. Light aircraft will need a much higher focal length.

We can’t provide sample pictures from this location but it should look like this.

	Spot #3 – Orange gate – All Runway 12 traffic and Runway 30 departures.
WHERE	From Spot #2, walk to the left of the crash gate, following the perimeter fence until you reach the orange gate. It’s possible to take photos through the latch of the gate and there’s also a slight gap on the left hand side of the gate. However, it’s much better with a tall ladder, especially as there is a slight mound ahead which will otherwise hide the wheels of aircraft on the runway as they pass in front of you. It is also possible to follow the perimeter fence around to get closer to the runway, but again you’ll need a tall ladder and you’ll be a lot more conspicuous when you’re that close to the runway as the security and emergency vehicles pass this spot regularly.
WHAT	All traffic on Runway 12, including the departures when they’re on the taxiway beyond, and departing traffic on Runway 30. Arrivals on Runway 30 are likely to have vacated the runway before reaching this point.
TIME	In the winter the light is good from about 11am; in the summer the light’s OK from about 12 noon until about 6pm.
MISC.	Food, drink and restroom facilities are available in the Highwayman Bar & Grillhouse. Heat haze can be an issue on warmer days, especially for traffic on the taxiway.
FOCAL LENGTH	120mm for the 737-800; 180mm for the ERJ-175, although 150mm would do for a more side on shot. Light aircraft will need a much higher focal length.

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	Spot #4 – Parking Lot – All Runway 12/30 traffic, taxiway, ramp
WHERE	From Spot #2, head back along Port Road and, at the crossroads, turn left onto Fonmon Road. At the end of the road turn left onto Fontygary Road and follow this road through the village of Rhoose to the roundabout. Go straight across at the roundabout onto Rhoose Road and take the third turning on the left. Follow the road round to Aeros Flight Training and park in the to the left next to the hanger.The spot is next to the Cambrian, which was used to be a Café/Bar with a balcony but nowdays unfortunately used as a club house and access is for members only. Now you have to stay at the fence at the parking lot.
WHAT	All runway movements, ramp and taxiways in front and beyond.
TIME	In the winter the light is good from about 11am; in the summer the light’s OK from about 12 noon until about 6pm.
MISC.	A ladder is necessary. Heat haze can be an issue on warmer days, especially for traffic on the far taxiway.
FOCAL LENGTH	130mm for the 737-800 and 240mm for the Jetstream 41 on the runway. 120mm for the Jetstream 31 and about 180mm for light aircraft on the near taxiway.

No pictures available.

	Spot #5 – Porthkerry Road – Departures from Runway 12
WHERE	From Spot #4 route back along Rhoose Road to the roundabout. Turn left onto Porthkerry Road, go straight ahead at the next roundabout and immediately take the next left and park on the left by the metal gate. This is Spot #5 where you can take photos over the gate as traffic lifts off from Runway 12 above the hedge beyond.
WHAT	Traffic departing from Runway 12.
TIME	In the winter the light is good from about 11am; in the summer the light’s OK from about 12 noon until about 6pm.
MISC.	A ladder is not necessary here. There is no shade here and there are no facilities so bring what you need.
FOCAL LENGTH	155mm for the A321 and 165mm for the ERJ-175. Light aircraft will need a much higher focal length if they’re not already too high by here.

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	Spot #6 – End of the lane – All arriving and departing traffic on Runway 30
WHERE	From Spot #5, drive to the end of the narrow lane and park on the right hand side near the end. Walk to the fence on the left at the end of the lane.
WHAT	All arriving and departing traffic on Runway 30. Most jet traffic arriving on Runway 12 is likely to pass here, though Runway 12 departing traffic may be too high by here.
TIME	In the winter the light is good from about 11am; in the summer the light’s OK from about 12 noon until about 6pm.
MISC.	A ladder is necessary here as the fence isn’t quite low enough to take photos over. There is shade from the trees here but there are no other facilities so bring what you need.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm will cover the regular airliners from here; light aircraft will need a much higher focal length.

We can’t provide sample pictures from this location but it should look like this.

	Spot #7 – Holiday Inn Express roundabout – Traffic on the taxiway and runway beyond
WHERE	Leave the terminal to the right and follow the road around to the Holiday Inn Express roundabout where you’ll arrive after five minutes; this is Spot #7. If travelling by car, turn left at the first roundabout and right at the second and park in the Holiday Inn Express car park. There is also a parking lay-by on the left before you get to the Holiday Inn car park. It is possible to take photos with care through the fence here but a tall ladder would be better, though this might attract the attention of the authorities.
WHAT	Traffic on the taxiway and the runway beyond.
TIME	In summer only, from about 7am until about 9am.
MISC.	There is no shade here but facilities are available in the Holiday Inn Express or in the terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH	95mm for the A320 and 110mm for the ERJ-175. Traffic  on the runway will need a higher focal length.

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