This week I was lucky enough to experience a private tour of Cardiff Airport and the new lovely dream-liner of Qatar Airlines!
I met with Jayne from Qatar Airlines and Cristina from Cardiff Airport, they showed me the changes being made to Cardiff Airport to make it a better and more competitive place to fly from. Along with the exciting tour of the new lounges, security, duty free, and obviously the Dream-liner by Qatar!
Cardiff Airport
Situated just outside Cardiff in Rhoose, Cardiff Airport is home to a single terminal that connects over 1.5 million passengers every year with 900 destinations, via 50 direct routes.
On the 1st May 2018, Qatar Airways launched a brand new route from Cardiff to Doha. This is the first regular direct long-haul flight linking Wales and the South West to a major global hub in the Gulf region and significant global markets across the world including Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Asia.
Currently operating seven days a week, the new route targets both leisure and business travellers.
Cardiff Airport aspires to be an outstanding capital city airport connecting Wales to the World and the World to Wales, whilst delivering an exceptional customer experience. Their mission is to be a sustainable airport business generating significant economic benefit for Wales.
Continuing on their journey of transformation, passenger numbers have grown 7% in the last year, with more than 1.6 million passengers now choosing to fly from Cardiff annually!
18 airlines regularly use Cardiff Airport, many of which have added more capacity on existing routes and introduced new destinations. Currently serving:
- 50 direct routes
- over 900 connections
- 11 routes to major hub airports
Including Ryan Air, Flybe, Thomas Cook, TUI, Qatar, KLM and many more!!
Some of their changes include a new Costa Coffee, Well Pharmacy, larger WH Smith store and their new Executive Lounges.
The 51° Executive Lounge boasts comfy seating, free WiFi, charging points, complimentary newspapers and flight information screens. And is only £20 to book!!
These are a great addition to the airport!
I personally used the Executive Lounge earlier this year and can honestly say that it
beat London Heathrow’s Aspire Lounge and London Gatwick’s No.1 Lounge!
I especially loved that they have Welsh Products on offer such as Penderyn Whisky and even Bara Brith Cake!! 🙂
Qatar Airlines
This week I got to visit the best “Business Class” seats in the air, Qatar Airways.
Qatar flies to over 160 destinations, upto 7 times per week.
Thinking of going to Australia, India, Thailand, Bali and more fly from Cardiff.
Five flights a week are currently running between Cardiff and Doha, which will rise to daily from May 31 for the summer season, all operated by a B787 Dreamliner.
The airport is much smaller than other airports, meaning that boarding and getting to the gate is much quicker and smoother than the likes of London!
Business Class
The seats are spacious and comfortable, they are enclosed within their own pods and equipped with fold-out polished mahogany desks, wide TV screens complete with a remote control, in-seat buttons to call the crew for assistance, and bottled water and noise-isolating headphones packed into a compartment in the arm of each chair. They also come with plush pillows and fur-lined blanket.
Top tip… if you are travelling Economy, check out the extra leg room seats, row 26….no extra charge😀✈️
Qatar Airways even have windows in the bathrooms!! #Loowithaview
All Qatar flights from Cardiff have 1 stop in Doha in Hamad International Airport. A great airport which runs like clockwork,
full equipped with a spa and pool!! So you will want a longer connection to make full use of this before your next flight!!!
Lamp Bear by Swiss artist Urs Fischer takes centre stage in the grand foyer leading to HIA’s world-class duty-free hall. It is a 23-foot canary yellow teddy bear sculpted from bronze, that sits peacefully inside a lamp. It’s a playful piece that humanises the space around it and reminds travellers of childhood or precious objects from home.
For more details or to book your trip call 01633 897002 or email sales@thetravelbusiness.co.uk
