Low-cost airline Wizz Air has postponed the start of seven routes and the opening of its newest UK hub just a day after announcing the launch.
The airline was set to start flying from its base at Cardiff Airport at the end of this month to seven sunshine destinations but the move has been delayed with the airline blaming continuing Covid travel restrictions.
It had planned to begin operating from Cardiff on July 30 with services to Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Corfu, Faro, Heraklion, Larnaca and Tenerife.
The change of plan came as the Welsh government confirmed the end of quarantine restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers returning from amber list countries.
The hub will now open in summer 2022, the airline has announced.
In a statement Wizz Air said: “As a result of the ongoing Covid-19 related travel restrictions, and ever changing quarantine measures in place across the UK and Europe, it is with regret that we have had to take the difficult but responsible decision to further postpone the opening of our new Cardiff base until summer 2022 to give our customers, employees and business partners certainty during this difficult time.
"This has not been an easy decision and we understand the disappointment our customers in South Wales will be feeling.
"Despite the ever changing and inconsistent government travel regulations, with three new bases and over 60 new routes in the UK announced in the past year alone, together with the arrival of four brand new A321NEO aircraft, Wizz Air remains committed to long-term growth in the U.K., creating hundreds of direct new jobs while also stimulating the tourism and hospitality industries.
"We apologise for the inconvenience this further delay might have caused to our customers. We remain dedicated and look forward to opening our fourth UK base at Cardiff Airport and to welcoming passengers onboard our young and green aircraft fleet next summer.”
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