Cardiff Airport hopes cargo route can turn around fortunes

Flights to the Middle Eastern nation’s capital were suspended at the start of the pandemic, but he said he was “actively encouraging” the airline to restart services as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Wizz Air ended its flights from Cardiff in 2023, and the only direct flight to Paris stopped in March 2024.

But Mr Birns said the reintroduction of cargo services was “fantastic news”.

The flights will be operated by European Cargo, a British carrier which has an existing base in Bournemouth.

Its second UK base in Cardiff has opened with three flights a week using dedicated Airbus aircraft, with the option of increasing to four flights in future.

“Last time we had that was 2010, so getting an airline back in here operating freighters is great,” he said.

“It’s fantastic for Wales, it’s fantastic for the economy, and it’s fantastic for the airport.”