Cardiff Airport Map & Terminal Guide 2026
One terminal, six airlines, 56 destinations. Everything you need to navigate Cardiff Airport (CWL) — Wales’s only commercial airport, owned by the Welsh Government and serving close to a million passengers a year.
Cardiff Airport Map
The Cardiff Airport map below shows the full layout of Cardiff Airport (CWL/EGFF), the only airport in Wales offering scheduled commercial passenger services. CWL handled 953,681 passengers in 2025, up 9% on the year before, and is ranked the 20th busiest airport in the United Kingdom. Owned and operated by the Welsh Government, it sits in the village of Rhoose in the Vale of Glamorgan, roughly 12 miles south-west of Cardiff city centre.
As you can see on the Cardiff Airport map, the layout is compact and straightforward: a single terminal building with arrivals on the ground floor and departures on the first floor. There are no separate concourses or inter-terminal trains to worry about. Six airlines serve the airport in 2026, with TUI Airways, Ryanair, Vueling, KLM, Aer Lingus and WestJet connecting Cardiff to destinations across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Canada.
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Cardiff Airport Location Map
Cardiff Airport is located in Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan, approximately 12 miles (19 km) south-west of Cardiff city centre. The location map below shows CWL’s position relative to the city. The airport is accessed from the M4 at Junction 33, following signs along the A4232, A4050 and A4226. It sits close to the Bristol Channel coast, between the towns of Barry and Bridgend.
Interactive map showing Cardiff Airport’s location south-west of Cardiff city centre
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Cardiff Airport Terminal
Cardiff Airport has a single terminal building that handles all passengers, both departing and arriving. The layout is split across two floors. The ground floor is the arrivals level, housing baggage reclaim, UK Border Force and customs, car rental desks and the exit to ground transport. The first floor is the departures level, with airline check-in desks, self-service bag drop kiosks, the security checkpoint and the airside departure lounge containing all the gates, shops, restaurants and the 51° Executive Lounge.
Because it is a single compact terminal, Cardiff Airport is one of the easiest UK airports to navigate. From entering the departures hall to reaching airside takes most passengers well under 30 minutes outside of peak periods. There are no inter-terminal transfers, no trams and no confusing concourse splits.
Baggage trolleys require a £1 or €1 coin deposit, refunded on return. No foreign exchange desks are currently available; bring currency in advance or use ATMs inside the terminal. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout for the first two hours.
Cardiff Airport Departures
The departures process at Cardiff Airport is linear and quick. Entering from the drop-off zone or car parks, passengers enter the departures hall on the first floor. Airline check-in desks run along the check-in hall, with self-service bag drop kiosks available for most airlines. Once checked in, passengers proceed straight to the security checkpoint, then enter the airside departure lounge where all gates are located.
Cardiff Airport Arrivals
Arriving passengers at Cardiff Airport deplane and walk directly into the arrivals area on the ground floor. UK and EU passport holders can use ePassport gates in the border control hall, which have been available at CWL since 2018. After clearing customs, passengers exit into the arrivals hall where taxi and transfer pick-up, car hire desks and the Costa Coffee are located.
Airlines at Cardiff Airport 2026
Six airlines operate scheduled services from Cardiff Airport in 2026. TUI Airways is by far the largest carrier, running the widest range of routes to holiday destinations across Spain, the Canary Islands, Turkey, Greece, Egypt and Mexico. KLM is the only airline offering a year-round connection to a major European hub, flying twice daily to Amsterdam Schiphol. Ryanair and Vueling cover popular routes within Europe. WestJet introduces the airport’s only transatlantic service, with seasonal flights to Toronto from May to September. Aer Lingus serves Dublin seasonally.
Cardiff Airport Security
Cardiff Airport has a single security checkpoint in the departures hall on the first floor, serving all passengers regardless of airline or destination. Standard and Fast Track lanes are available. The Fast Track lane can be booked in advance online or purchased at the airport on the day, subject to availability. Once through security, the entire airside departure lounge and all gates are accessible without any further checks.
Getting to Cardiff Airport
Cardiff Airport is accessible by road, rail and bus. Most passengers arrive by car, which is straightforward via the M4. Those using public transport combine a train from Cardiff Central to Rhoose Cardiff Airport railway station, then the dedicated 905 Rail Link shuttle bus to the terminal.
By Train and Bus
Transport for Wales runs regular services from Cardiff Central station to Rhoose Cardiff Airport station, taking approximately 31 minutes. The 905 Rail Link bus then connects the station to the terminal in around 11 minutes, running hourly on Monday to Saturday and every two hours on Sundays, timed to meet arriving trains. A through-ticket covering both the train and bus can be purchased in one transaction via Transport for Wales, simplifying the journey.
By Road
Leave the M4 at Junction 33 and follow airport signs along the A4232, A4050 and A4226. Journey time from Cardiff city centre is typically 25 to 35 minutes in normal traffic. Sat nav postcode: CF62 3BD. The Western approach via the A4226 and the Eastern approach via Port Road both lead to the terminal; car parks are accessed from the Eastern approach only for Long Stay options.
Cardiff Airport Parking
Cardiff Airport offers several on-site car parking options, with a range of price points depending on how close you want to be to the terminal. Pre-booking online always gives a better rate than turning up on the day. The drop-off zone immediately outside the terminal is the cheapest short-term option for drivers dropping off a passenger.
Cardiff Airport Hotels
Several hotels are within a short distance of the terminal, making them convenient for early morning or late evening flights.
Insider Tips for Cardiff Airport
Cardiff is a genuinely easy airport to use. The single terminal means there is no risk of heading to the wrong building, and the airside departure lounge is compact enough that reaching any gate takes under five minutes on foot. A few things worth knowing: there are no foreign exchange desks at CWL, so bring cash or use the on-site ATMs. Free Wi-Fi covers the full terminal but sessions are capped at two hours. Water filling stations are dotted throughout the building, so bring a refillable bottle to avoid paying inflated prices airside. If you are using the 905 Rail Link bus from Rhoose station, check the timetable before you travel, as on Sundays it runs every two hours rather than hourly. The KLM twice-daily Amsterdam connection is one of the most useful routes at the airport for onward connections to long-haul destinations not served direct from Cardiff.
Cardiff Airport Map — FAQ
How many terminals does Cardiff Airport have?
Just one. The single terminal building handles all airlines and all flights. Arrivals are on the ground floor; departures are on the first floor. There are no concourses, no inter-terminal buses and no tram connections to worry about.
Which airlines fly from Cardiff Airport in 2026?
Six airlines: TUI Airways (the largest, covering Spain, Canary Islands, Turkey, Greece, Egypt and Mexico), KLM (Amsterdam, twice daily year-round), Ryanair (Dublin, Faro, Alicante, Malaga — seasonal), Vueling (Alicante, Malaga — seasonal), WestJet (Toronto — seasonal, May to September) and Aer Lingus (Dublin — seasonal).
How do I get from Cardiff city centre to the airport?
By public transport: train from Cardiff Central to Rhoose Cardiff Airport station (about 31 minutes), then the 905 Rail Link bus to the terminal (about 11 minutes). A through-ticket is available via Transport for Wales. By car: M4 Junction 33, then A4232/A4050/A4226, about 30 minutes in normal traffic. Taxis typically cost £30 to £45.
Is there a lounge at Cardiff Airport?
Yes. The 51° Executive Lounge is airside (after security), near Gate 2 on the first floor. It is open 4 am to 9 pm. Entry costs £25 per person at the door, or via a prepaid lounge pass, lounge membership or eligible credit card benefit. Maximum stay is two hours.
Where is security at Cardiff Airport?
There is a single security checkpoint in the departures hall on the first floor, serving all passengers. Standard lanes are always available; a Fast Track lane can be pre-booked or purchased on the day. Busiest times are early mornings (5 to 8 am) and school holiday periods.
What parking options are at Cardiff Airport?
Premium Parking (2 to 5 min walk, most expensive), Car Park 1 (on-site, short walk), Car Park 2 and Long Stay 2 (free shuttle, 5 mins). Drop-off zone outside the terminal costs £3 for the first 10 minutes. Off-site park and ride is also available about 2.7 miles away. Pre-book online for the best rates.
How far is Cardiff Airport from Cardiff city centre?
About 12 miles (19 km) south-west, in the village of Rhoose. By car, roughly 30 minutes via the M4. By train and bus, around 40 to 45 minutes total from Cardiff Central station.
What does the Cardiff Airport map show?
The Cardiff Airport map shows the single terminal building with its arrivals and departures layout, the security checkpoint, airside gates and departure lounge, the 51° Executive Lounge position, all on-site car parks, the drop-off zone, road access via the M4 and A4232, and the location of Rhoose Cardiff Airport railway station.
Does Cardiff Airport have Fast Track security?
Yes. A Fast Track lane is available at the single security checkpoint. It can be pre-booked online before travel or purchased on the day at the airport, subject to availability. It is worth buying during peak periods such as school holidays and early morning departures.