Volotea is launching chartered flights from Cardiff Airport for the Rugby World Cup in France. The Spanish airline will be offering two direct flights to Lyon and Nantes ahead of Wales’ Pool C deciding matches against Australia and Georgia.
This year’s Rugby World Cup is taking place in France from September 8 until October 28.
The flight to Lyon will leave on September 22 ahead of Wales playing Australia at the OL Stadium and return from Lyon on September 25. The direct flight to Nantes ahead of Wales playing Georgia in the Stade de la Boujoire will run on October 6 and return on October 8.
Read more: The three bids competing to become Wales' first freeport
Cardiff Airport aviation development manager Marc Watkins said: “We have been working for some time on securing flights to take Wales fans from Cardiff to the Rugby World Cup, and we welcome this commitment from Volotea. Of course, the big pool game, where interest to get to the match is highest, is against Australia in Lyon, so we are especially excited to have flights for that particular weekend.”
Volotea was founded in 2011 and flies from 22 cities in France with aircraft based in eight French cities, including in Lyon and Nantes.
Gabriel Schmilovich, Volotea’s chief strategy officer, said: “We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new flights directly connecting Welsh rugby fans to the upcoming Rugby World Cup matches in France. Our new direct routes from Cardiff to Lyon and Nantes will offer a seamless and convenient travel experience, ensuring that fans can focus on the excitement of the game rather than the logistics of travel.
"We are proud to be partnering with Cardiff Airport to make this service possible and are confident that fans will appreciate the quality of our service from the moment they step on board.”
Jim Strachan, director at Cowbridge-based Strachan Travel, a division of Venatour, said: “We have been inundated with enquiries about getting Wales fans to the World Cup games from Cardiff. Having these flights to Lyon and Nantes with Volotea, a well-established European low-fare airline, gives us a very workable travel solution for these important group matches.”
Read more:
- Audio production firm wins contract to produce BBC Radio 2 Early Breakfast Show
Adra to build 900 new homes for North Wales by 2025 following £40m loan
Welsh cyber security firm Hut Six in six-figure equity boost
Welsh university research projects face 'urgent cliff edge' over end of EU funds
Freeport status should go to more than one port in Wales say Welsh Tories
