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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Business
Lauren Phillips

Ryanair launches rescue fares as Wizz Air cuts routes from Cardiff Airport

Ryanair has announced rescue fares for passengers affected by the Wizz Air cuts at Cardiff Airport.

Passengers booked to fly on now-cancelled flights from Cardiff to European holiday destinations are now being offered travel on one of Ryanair's flights from £39.99.

The airline said rescue fares are now on sale on its website for travel until the end of October, but it added that tickets must be booked by midnight on August 15.

The alternative Ryanair routes are:

  • Bristol to Alicante
  • Bristol to Faro
  • Bristol to Malaga
  • Bristol to Palma
  • Bristol to Tenerife
  • Cardiff to Faro

Ryanair’s Dara Brady said: "While Wizz Air is cutting flights to top European destinations such as Faro and Tenerife, Ryanair continues to operate a full schedule with over 3,000 daily flights and we are ready to accommodate the holiday needs of families flying from Cardiff who have been affected by these Wizz Air disruptions.

"UK families can book safe in the knowledge that Ryanair will fly them to/from their much deserved holiday to enjoy some time with family and friends."

Earlier today Wizz Air announced it was suspending journeys to nine popular destinations from September 19, citing that "economic pressures" made the routes not commercially viable.

The airline would no longer be offering tickets to Alicante, Corfu, Heraklion, Faro, Larnaca, Lanzarote, Palma de Mallorca, Sharm el-Sheikh or Tenerife.

Its bosses said the decision was made to minimise disruption to passengers, who will be informed by email if they are affected.

Ticket-holders will be offered options to either rebook to take their trip this year as planned but from London Gatwick or Luton Airport, or book comparable flights to go next summer from Cardiff.

People will also be offered either a full cash refund or 120% of their ticket cost in airline credit.

Flights to Milan, Italy, and Romanian capital Bucharest will still operate over the winter months, Wizz Air confirmed. Tickets to those destinations are being offered from October.

However, all other links will be cancelled until April 2023 when the airline said it intends to then increase operations from Cardiff.

Its staff at Wales’s only international airport will be offered opportunities at other UK airports over the winter to return in the spring.

Managing director of Wizz Air UK Marion Geoffrey said: “We are very disappointed to have to suspend several routes from Cardiff Airport for the winter season.

“Though these routes have proved popular through the summer season, it would not be commercially viable to continue to operate them through this coming winter due to the challenging macro-economic environment.

“This leaves us with no option but to pause these routes until next spring.

“We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience this will cause customers who already booked flights with us. We are in touch with all affected customers to explain their options.

“It takes time to build up sustainable operations at any base and we are prepared to build up operations at Cardiff over the long term.”

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