PASSENGER numbers at Cardiff Airport increase by 10 per cent during the 2015 peak summer season compared to 2014.

Airline Vueling has had a good summer as Spain continues to be a popular destination for travellers.

Long haul flights with KLM and Aer Lingus are also growing via connecting hubs in Amsterdam and Dublin respectively, Dubai was the most popular destination followed by the USA, China and Malaysia.

Charter operators Thomson and Thomas Cook have seen strong passenger numbers and continue to perform well.

Flybe opened its new two aircraft base on June 1, operating a network of 13 leisure and business routes across the UK and Europe.

Debra Barber, managing director said: “We are very pleased to see positive results from the summer season. The new Flybe base has been bedding in well and the flights are proving to be extremely popular, especially with new routes such as Cork, Düsseldorf, Munich, Milan and Faro now available.

“We know that customers will fly to and from Cardiff when there is the choice of destinations at reasonable prices. We remain focussed on giving customers even more options so that Cardiff becomes the Airport of choice for both Welsh passengers and those travelling to Wales.”

Passenger numbers increased by 12 per cent in June, eight per cent in July and 10 per cent in August compared to the same period in 2014.