cardiff - Travel Talks Platform

Tag: cardiff

Air France adds London Gatwick route and exciting Cardiff flights for Rugby Six Nations 2026

Written by Stacey Kuiper on December 9, 2025. Posted in Airline.

Air France adds London Gatwick route and exciting Cardiff flights for Rugby Six Nations 2026

Air France has looked at the UK for 2026 and said, “Oui, we’ll have a bit more of that.” And honestly? We’re here for it. The airline is rolling out a shiny new twice-daily route to London Gatwick, plus a limited-edition, rugby-fuelled service to Cardiff — because nothing brings nations together like a plane full of fans singing, “Allez les Bleus!” at 30,000 feet.

And yes, they’re doing it all with style, because of course they are… they’re French.

Bonjour, Gatwick – Paris Is Coming for You

Starting 29 March 2026, Air France will launch two daily flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and London Gatwick. That’s right — not one tentative flight. Not a “let’s try this for the summer and see how it goes.” No. A confident, beautifully punctual twice-daily service, flown by the sleek Airbus A220, which looks like something designed by a Parisian architect in a very good mood.

The idea? To give travellers even better access to Air France’s mega-hub at CDG — meaning the moment you step off your London–Paris hop, you can roll straight into connections for Tokyo, Cape Town, New York, Rome, or literally anywhere that excuses you from answering work emails for a week.

Flight schedule (local):
• Paris → Gatwick: 09:20–09:30 / 15:45–15:55
• Gatwick → Paris: 10:30–12:40 / 17:10–19:20
(Translation: very commuter-friendly, and perfect for anyone who likes the idea of breakfast in London and late-lunching on a croissant in Paris.)

And because it’s Gatwick, passengers get extremely quick access into London — thanks to Gatwick Express, Thameslink, and Southern trains — not to mention the entire South Coast. Brighton weekend, anyone? Paris → London → beach → chips → joy.

With this new route, Air France now jumps to eight daily London flights (six to Heathrow, two to Gatwick). At this point, the UK might as well give them a loyalty card.

Need assistance with groups and incentives in London? Contact this Fantastic DMC in London!

Rugby Madness: Air France Opens a Pop-Up Route to Cardiff

Now for the fun part — because nothing says “strategic expansion” like a temporary route created specifically for rugby fans who require both passion and punctuality.

From 13–16 February 2026, Air France will operate 12 extra flights between Paris-CDG and Cardiff for the Six Nations. Yes, twelve. That’s basically a shuttle service for people wearing jerseys, waving flags, and arguing about refereeing decisions before the seatbelt sign even turns off.

These flights are aimed at
• French fans heading to Wales
• Welsh fans returning home from Paris
• And all the brave neutrals who simply enjoy the adrenaline of sitting between both

In short: Cardiff Airport is about to experience more berets, baguette-shaped neck pillows, and enthusiastic chanting than ever before.

The Big Picture: Air France Loves the UK (a Lot)

Air France already flies up to 300 times per week to six different UK airports — which is basically the aviation equivalent of saying, “We’re practically neighbours now.”

The new Gatwick flights and the Six Nations specials aren’t random add-ons. They’re part of the airline’s broader push in its medium-haul network, and a sign that the UK remains one of its most important markets. And clearly, the feeling is mutual — because the planes keep filling up.

So whether you’re heading to Paris for pastries, to Cardiff for rugby glory, or just looking for an excuse to pretend you’re very international on Instagram, 2026 is shaping up nicely.

Air France is ready. Gatwick is ready. Cardiff is ready. Are you ready to travel to one of these fantastic destinations soon?

The only question left: Are you packed yet?

TUI Relaunches Exciting Lapland Santa Trips 2025

Written by Stacey Kuiper on September 3, 2025. Posted in Airline.

TUI Relaunches Exciting Lapland Santa Trips 2025

Just when you thought winter couldn’t get any more magical—or expensive—TUI has announced that its wildly popular Search for Santa day trips to Lapland are making a comeback in 2026. Yes, that means you can literally fly to the North Pole’s Finnish neighbor, meet Santa, and be back home before your cat has noticed you’re gone.

Starting winter 2026, families can hop on flights from 11 UK and Irish airports, with new departures from Cardiff and the glorious return of Bournemouth (because apparently Santa missed Bournemouth too). The plan? Wake up in the UK, spend an entire day frolicking around in Arctic snow, meet the big man in red, and still make it home in time to collapse on your sofa in a mince pie coma.

Need assistance with groups and incentives in Finland? Contact this fantastic DMC!

What’s in the Christmas Sack?

Now, let’s talk value. Tickets start at £750 per person. Yes, you read that right. For that price, Santa better know your child’s name and remember what they got last year. But to be fair, this isn’t your average package holiday. The trip includes:

Return flights with meals – complete with a roast Christmas dinner on the flight home. It’s the only time eating turkey in turbulence will feel festive instead of weird.
Private Santa meeting – not a mall Santa, not your neighbor in a fake beard, but the real deal. Each child even gets a gift. (We’re guessing it’s not an iPad, but hey, it’s the thought that counts.)
Snow Village access – husky rides, reindeer sleigh rides, mini snowmobiles for kids, tobogganing, and enough snow to make you forget what your own driveway looks like.
Thermal clothing – because if you think your Primark puffer is going to cut it at –20°C, good luck.
Arctic storytelling and campfires with berry juice – because mulled wine would probably turn this into a very different kind of trip.

The Santa Itinerary (aka Elf Bootcamp)

This isn’t just a quick photo op and then back to the airport. TUI has packed the day with enough activities to leave your kids wide-eyed and your Fitbit gasping. Between snow play, elf-led festivities, sleigh rides, and a hearty Lapland lunch, you’ll basically live an entire festive fairytale in under 12 hours.

And yes—Santa’s elves will be on hand to guide you through it all. Which is reassuring, because who better to wrangle overexcited children in a blizzard than someone in curly-toed shoes with centuries of experience?

Why TUI Thinks You’ll Love It

Chris Logan, TUI UK&I’s Commercial Director, says these trips are designed to make it “easier than ever for families across the UK to experience the magic of Lapland.” Translation: we’re bringing Santa closer, so you don’t have to sell a kidney for a week-long Arctic holiday.

And honestly, he’s not wrong. For families who want to sprinkle their Christmas with genuine once-in-a-lifetime magic, this trip is about as close as you’ll get to the real North Pole without trespassing on Santa’s actual property.

So, Should You Go?

If you’re the kind of parent who wants to win “Best Christmas Ever” bragging rights, then yes. If you’re a kid, this is basically Hogwarts meets Frozen. If you’re Santa—well, you’d better get some rest, because TUI is sending half the UK to your doorstep.

Sure, £750 per head might sting, but how else are you going to explain to your six-year-old why Santa has a different accent every time you meet him at a shopping center? This is the original, snow-dusted, husky-pulled, roast-dinner-at-30,000-feet version of Christmas.

And honestly, isn’t that worth a few months of eating beans on toast?