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Cardiff Airport retains top accessibility rating as regulator reports record demand for assistance

Tuesday, 4 August 2026 11:51

By Nathan Spackman

Cardiff Airport has once again been recognised for the quality of its support for disabled passengers, keeping its ‘Very Good’ rating in the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s latest Airport Accessibility Report.

The annual assessment, covering April 2025 to March 2026, reviews how the UK’s busiest airports support travellers with disabilities or reduced mobility. Cardiff Airport maintained the same top-tier rating it achieved last year, placing it among 19 airports nationwide judged to be delivering ‘Very Good’ assistance services.

The regulator’s report highlights a sharp rise in the number of people needing support when travelling. A record 5.9 million passengers used assistance services at UK airports in 2025 — a trend that continues to grow faster than overall passenger numbers.

Cardiff Airport was one of five airports visited for a detailed “deep dive” assessment, with inspectors observing assistance services in operation and reviewing facilities, processes and staff training.

Across the UK, 19 airports were rated ‘Very Good ’, and nine were rated ‘Good’. Crucially, no airports fell into the ‘Needs Improvement’ or ‘Poor’ categories, marking a significant shift from 2014 when 13 airports were rated at the lowest levels.

The Civil Aviation Authority says sustained investment in staff training, equipment and accessible facilities has driven standards up over the past decade.

Despite the progress, the regulator notes that disabled passengers still face barriers. Its latest Aviation Consumer Survey found overall satisfaction with air travel at 88 per cent, but satisfaction among passengers with accessibility needs was lower at 82 percent. More than half of disabled respondents reported difficulties using airports or flying, particularly around walking, standing and handling luggage.

Anna Bowles, Head of Consumer Protection at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said “The progress made in improving airport accessibility over the last decade is encouraging. Through our annual assessments, we have challenged airports to raise standards, increase transparency and focus on the needs of disabled passengers.

“The fact that no airport was rated 'Needs Improvement' or 'Poor' this year is welcome, but we cannot be complacent. Some disabled passengers still face difficulties when travelling, and with demand for assistance services continuing to rise, airports must continue to invest in assistance services.”

She added that proposed changes in the Civil Aviation Bill would give the regulator stronger enforcement powers to hold airports to account on accessibility standards.

Cardiff Airport’s continued ‘Very Good’ rating places it alongside airports including Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and London City. The regulator says its assessments — including on-site observations at around 1,400 flights — show that the airport is meeting the needs of passengers who require support, even as demand continues to rise.

If you’d like, I can also produce a shorter social version or a sidebar summarising Cardiff Airport’s accessibility performance.

Do you have a story to share? Email News@broradio.fm 

 

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