400 extra flights for airport for Champions League finals in city
CARDIFF Airport will handle more than 400 extra flights for the Uefa Champions League final, it was revealed – as excitement for the massive sporting clash hit fever pitch.
With just days to go before the showpiece final in the centre of Cardiff, it emerged that 24,000 fans will fly into the Rhoosebased airport.
Officials said passengers would arrive and depart via a mix of charter and private aircraft.
As the scale of the travel operation became clearer, there were further revelations about the festivities surrounding the final.
Hometown superstar Ryan Giggs became the first star to be confirmed for this week’s Champions League legends game on the new floating pitch in Cardiff Bay.
And the latest in a long line of city centre changes was unveiled as a massive banner of Real Madrid and Wales star Gareth Bale emerged on the face of one of the city’s tallest buildings.
As the final preparations got underway, airlines, including Vueling, have increased frequency on their scheduled services, while KLM will operate larger aircraft to cope with increased passenger demand.
Both the Juventus and Real Madrid teams will touch down at the airport on Friday, on the eve of the match at the National Stadium of Wales – which has temporarily changed its name from the Principality Stadium for rights reasons – in the centre of Cardiff.
Juventus fans will arrive at the airport through a temporary second terminal.
While the destination will be much busier, scheduled flights will operate as usual with the Welsh Government-owned airport saying every effort will be made to minimise the impact on regular passengers flying off for their summer holiday or away on business.
Customers are being advised to allow additional time to travel to and from the airport and to be mindful of road closures in place in and around the area.
Debra Barber, the airport’s chief executive, said: “Cardiff Airport’s role in the Champions League final has been some 12 months in the planning with the support of a number of key agencies to ensure that air transport plan is robust, effective and, of course, safe and secure.
“As a team we’ll be going above and beyond to ensure business as usual is upheld for our customers, whilst delivering a successful event and a warm Welsh welcome to a wealth of excited sport fans.”
Cardiff is also hosting the women’s Champions League final this Thursday evening where holders Lyon take on Paris St-Germain at the Cardiff City Stadium. The final had already sold more than 15,000 tickets last week and a record attendance is expected for the women’s showpiece event.